What's that ridge above your lips called? Ever hear of an anatomical snuffbox? Learn about those and more.
17 Body Parts You Didn’t Realize Have Names
Anatomical snuffbox
Make a thumbs-up sign and a hollow will form under the base of your thumb between two tendons. It’s called the “anatomical snuffbox” because people placed their snuff there before snorting it in the 18th and 19th centuries. Don’t miss these other 13 bizarre facts about the human body.
Popliteal fossa
More technically the “posterior knee,” and less technically the “kneepit,” this is the space behind your knee, where your leg bends.
Acnestis
That “itch you can’t scratch” has a name. In any animal, the acnestis is an area of the back that can’t be reached for scratching. In humans, that’s between the shoulder blades.
Philtrum
When the face of a human embryo comes together, the pieces meet in what becomes the cleft between the lips and the nose. Its medical term, philtrum, comes from the Greek word for “love charm.”
Glabella
Also known as the mesophryon, this is the smooth space between your eyebrows, where a unibrow would be. Learn about the weird noises your body makes and what they mean.
Rasceta
Who knew the creases in your wrist weren’t just called skinfolds but had a real name: rasceta?
Antitragus
You might already know that the tragus is, the flap that sits in front of your ear canal which you press on when closing your ears. The antitragus is the cartilage projection across from that.
Lingual frenulum
In general, fraenum or frenulum refer to small ligaments that restrict movement. The most common example is the lingual frenulum, which attaches your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Make sure you know these parts of your body you should never touch.
Suprasternal notch
Also known as the jugular notch, this is the depression under your neck between your two clavicles.
Columella nasi
This is the name for the skin by the septum of your nose, which separates your nostrils. Check out these body parts you didn’t realize are as unique as your fingerprint.
Niddick
In some regions of England, the nape of the neck is known as the niddick.
Digitus secondus
You might call it your “pointer toe” or “long toe,” but the technical name is “digitus secondus.” The other three small toes are digitus pedis tertius (middle toe), digitus pedis quartus (ring toe), and digitus pedis maximus (pinky toe). The big toe is the hallux or digitus pedis primus. Find out which body parts you should never pick or pluck at.
Pate
Not to be confused with the French paste pâté, this refers to the crown of the head. Find out which part of your body ages the fastest.
Lunula
That crescent-shaped, whitish area at the base of your fingernail is called the lunula, which comes from the Latin word for “little moon.” A missing lunula is usually nothing to worry about, though its absence can be linked to anemia and malnutrition. Learn what other diseases your hands can predict.
Canthus
This is the point of your eye in both the inner and outer corners where the top lid meets the lower one.
Gnathion
The lowest point in the middle of your lower jaw has a name: gnathion. Find out the only two body parts that never stop growing.
Gynecomastia
No doubt you usually use the less technical name: man boobs.
[Sources: buzzfeed.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionaries]
