20 Strange & Funny Body Part Names You May Not Know
Funny body part names are not something you might think of every day. Your average person could probably only identify one or two of these parts of the body correctly. But, after reading this, you’ll know so much more. Be humble. Don’t flaunt your knowledge over your less-educated friends.
These funny body part names are strange and unfamiliar
We all know science and medicine speak their own language when it comes to naming things. Most of the terms originate from Latin or Greek but are not used in everyday language. Here’s a list of body parts with odd, unusual, and funny technical names. So next time you go to the doctor, you’ll be able to speak the same language of medical terms.
Get to know these funny body part names
You’ll know more about body parts than anyone but a doctor.
Acnestis
You know that spot on your back you can’t reach to scratch? Grab a back scratcher and go to town on your acnestis, otherwise known as the spot between your shoulder blades. From the Greek aknestis (spine) and knestos (scratch).
Canthus
The sandman is very familiar with your canthus (plural canthi). It is the corner of your eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet on either side.
Coccyx
A funny name for your tailbone. Not so funny when its bruised or broken. Named after the Greek term for “cuckoo” because it resembles the beak of the cuckoo bird. (Note: this is one of the funny body part names that folks might actually know.)
Columella
The literal meaning is “little column”. This “column” is the skin and cartilage that separates the nostrils.
Unusual and funny body part names
Ginglymus
A hinge joint — like the elbow or knee — that allows motion in one plane only. Very helpful for karate chops and field goals.
Glabella
A French supermodel? Nope. Its the smooth area between the eyebrows and above the nose. Often a site for wrinkle reduction injections.
Gowpen
A gowpen is a handful. Literally. It is the space created by cupping both hands and holding them together as if holding water. Used as a unit of measure for grains in olden times. The human body and its parts served many purposes.
Strange and funny body part names
Gnathion
The gnathion is your chin, specifically the part that protrudes below the mouth. From the Greek word “gnath” which means jaw. It sounds like a term from the 19th century.
Hallux
The hallux is a Latin-based name for your big toe. A bunion is a common malady of the toe.
Lanula
The white crescent-shaped area at the base of your fingernail is called the lanula. The word’s origin is from Latin for “little moon”.
Minimus
The minimus is on the opposite side of the hallux (see above). It is your little toe!
Morton’s Toe
Speaking of toes, when the big toe is shorter than the second toe it is called Morton’s Toe. This common condition has no shortage of other names: boss toe, Morton’s foot, Morton’s syndrome, Greek foot, “Royal toe”, “Turkey toe”, “Sheppard’s toe”, “LaMay toe”, “Viking toe”, long toe and a real doozy, “hallicusbradymetatarsalgia”.
Funny Body Part Names Video: Play the “Name that body part” game!
More odd and funny body part names
Niddick
Niddick is quite simply the nape of the neck.
Patella
The kneecap’s technical name is the patella.
Philtrum
The ancient Greek meaning of philtrum is “love charm”. It is the cleft area or vertical groove between the nose and upper lip.
Purlicue
Like the gowpen (see above), the purlicue is not so much a body part as it is a space created by your body. A purlicue is a space between your thumb and forefinger. The space creates an “L” shape from finger to thumb.
Common terms for funny body part names
Rasceta
Beneath the purlicue (see above) is the rasceta, the wrinkled skin at the base of the hand. It can also be described as the inside of the wrist.
Uvula
Maybe the funniest of all the parts in this list is the uvula. It is the fleshy lobe hanging at the back of your mouth just above the throat. It looks like a tiny boxing bag!
This is just a sampling of the funny names science has given common body parts. Use them to quiz your friends and impress your doctor on your next visit. You’ll be the next Cliff Clavin!
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By Greg Johnson
Greg is the cofounder of ListCaboodle.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these weird body part names. Now you can impress your friends with your exceptional knowledge of funny body part names!