Final answer:
Nails that are thinner, whiter, and more flexible than normal signify Onychodystrophy, which denotes general nail deformities including variations in the nail's texture, thickness, and shape.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nails that are noticeably thin, have a white nail plate, and are more flexible than normal nails suffer from a condition known as Onychodystrophy. Onychodystrophy refers to general deformities of the nails, and these can include changes in nail shape, texture, color, thickness, and composition. In contrast, conditions such as Onycholysis describe the separation of the nail from the nail bed, Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail making it thick and discolored, and Onychogryphosis is characterized by abnormal thickening and curvature of the nail.
Nails are composed mainly of a protein called Keratin, which is produced by Keratinocytes in the nail matrix. Healthy nails are an indicator of overall health and changes in their growth or appearance can reflect underlying health issues. Proper understanding of nail anatomy and conditions are important in health and medicine.