Melanonychia is a black or brown pigmentation of the normal nail plate, and may be present as a normal finding on many digits in black patients, as a result of trauma, systemic disease, or medications, or as a postinflammatory event from such localized events as lichen planus or fixed drug eruption.{rp|790}{rp|665} There are two types, longitudina...
Black pigmentation of the nails. ... Origin: melano-+ G. Onyx (onych-), nail ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
(mel″ә-no-nik´e-ә) blackening of the nails by melanin pigmentation.
Type: Term Pronunciation: mel′ă-nō-nik′ē-ă Definitions: 1. Black pigmentation of the nails.