What are those little white semi-circles on my fingernails?

[colditz]

The bit closest to my finger, it's very noticable on my thumbs. Most people seem to have them but what are they caused by and for what purpose are they there?

Half moons they are called. Good question.
To protect?

lack of calcium I think

so you know where your nail ends and your finger starts

think is shows healthy nails its when u get white spots on ur nail it mean either uve knocked it or lack of calcium

It's called the lunula. Everyone has them. Part of the nail anatomy.

I wonder if it is the nail that does it, or is it the coloration of the flesh underneath?

I only have them on some of my fingers, are my hands strange?

think it must be the flesh underneath as when ur nail grows it doesnt move

nail structure for your info

Thankyou, i will look at that when my puter decides to work

i recently noticed i have verticle ridges on my nails my thumbs are the worst, does anyone no what it is? (sorry thread hijack)