Names matter

The proper name for your big toe also means 'big toe'

Would you be able to confidently point at your pinna if asked? Or could you say how many canthi a person has? Each part of our body has a specific name—sometimes more than one—but we don’t always use them or even know them, especially if a popular version exists. The big toe, the bit of flesh between the index and the thumb, the space between the brows, all these have a proper name that is rarely used. Let’s discover the proper way to refer to some parts of our body.

We typically refer to the space beneath the shoulder as the armpit or underarm, but the technical name for it is axilla. The name comes from a diminutive form of the Latin ala, meaning ‘wing’ or ‘upper arm’, which would make the armpit the ‘little wing’.

This ‘little wing’ serves as a passageway for important nerves, blood vessels, and lymph nodes that supply our upper arm, making it a vulnerable spot but also very sensitive and ticklish, as our body instinctively tries to protect the area.

There is a reason why we call the top of the upper lip the "Cupid’s bow". The philtrum, or the vertical groove that goes from the button of the nose to the lip, is named after the Greek word phíltron, meaning ‘love spell or charm’.

This area was once considered to possess a special beauty, and the philtrum was the path where Cupid’s love arrows would land. Anatomically, the philtrum in humans is vestigial, but for other mammals it’s related to the sense of smell.

How do you refer to the space between your eyebrows? While most of us say "the space between the eyebrows", the correct name is glabella, a Latin word meaning ‘smooth’ or ‘hairless’.

The origin of the name is quite straightforward: while many mammals have "eyebrows", their brow bones are protruding and are often completely covered in fur. In humans, the brow bone is flat and smooth, and the area between the brows is typically hairless.

No one really knows how the bit of skin between the thumb and the index finger came to be called purlicue. Some say that it is a combination of the Scots pirlie (‘curl’) and the French cue (‘tail’)

This term was first used for squiggly writing or for the decorative flourish at the end of a word, but etymologists still can’t explain how it came to be used for the curve of the hand.

The term ‘ear’ encompasses both the outer and inner parts of the ear, but each component has its own name. Pinna, meaning ‘wing’, is the proper name of the visible ear, sometimes also called auricle, including both the cartilaginous and the fleshy part.

Although the inner ear is mainly responsible for converting sound into electrical signals and sending them to our brain, the pinna acts like a funnel that amplifies the sound vibrations and directs them into the ear canal.

We have specific names for every finger, but what about the toes? The names for the toes mirror those of the fingers (index, middle, ring, pinky), except the big toe, which is called the hallux, after the Medieval Latin hallex, meaning ‘great toe’.

However, this scientific name still has a connection with the thumb, as linguists believe that the spelling of hallux was influenced by the Latin word pollex, meaning ‘thumb’.

Several parts of the human body have a frenum (or frenulum), or a small band of tissue that restricts a mobile organ, such as the one connecting the underside of the tongue with the mouth.

This name comes from the Latin frenum, meaning ‘rein’ or ‘bridle’, equating the way tissue anchors and restricts the movement of the organ to how a rein directs and controls an animal.

If you thought that the corners of our eyes didn’t have a proper name, you are in for a surprise. The spot where the upper and lower lids meet —both inner and outer— is called canthus (canthi in plural), after the Greek kanthós, meaning ‘angle’ or ‘corner’.

Over the inner canthus, some people have a skin fold, called epicanthus (‘above the canthus’) or epicanthic fold. The shape of this fold —influenced by genetics, age, or medical conditions— often results in the upper lid being partially or completely hidden when the eye is open.

We often call it the cheekbone, but the proper name for it is zygoma, meaning ‘yoke’ or ‘bolt’ in Greek. Why was this name chosen? This bone acts like a bridge or yoke that connects the facial bones with the skull.

The scientific name for this bone is quite old, dating back to the 2nd century and to famous physicians such as Galen, who were the first to compare the cheekbone with a yoke. However, the term entered the English language only in the late 17th century.

Our nose has two nares or nostrils, separated by a strip of skin. Have you ever wondered if that small piece had a name? Well, it does, and it’s called columella, a diminutive form of the Latin columna (‘column’ or ‘pillar '), reflecting how the strip of nasal tissue stands like a column between the nostrils.

This word entered English in the 16th century, but it wasn’t only used to describe the human nose. Instead, it was adopted by many scientific fields to describe different structures that resembled a column.

Is there a clear distinction between the chin and the point of the chin? We often call the point of the chin just ‘chin’, but it's actually called the gnathion, derived from the Greek gnathos (‘jaw’ or ‘mouth’).

Gnathion is the diminutive form of gnathos, and could be translated as ‘little chin’. While anatomically, ‘chin’ describes the entire forward part of the lower jaw, the term gnathion refers to the pointiest part of it.

Stop! You’ve been using these 11 objects the wrong way

Image: Diana Polekhina

We use countless objects daily without questioning their design, yet many have hidden features or were meant for entirely different purposes. From kitchen tools to bananas, here are 11 everyday items you might be using all wrong—or that at least have surprising secrets built in.

Image: Anastasia Nikitina

Yes, toothpaste was always intended to clean and polish teeth, but its mild abrasives make it effective for cleaning jewelry, removing stains from clothing, and even defogging mirrors.

Interestingly, the first toothpaste-like substance dates back to ancient Egypt, where a blend of pumice and vinegar was used for oral care. Modern toothpaste, which includes ingredients like baking soda—another household staple—explains why it’s so effective on surfaces beyond just teeth.

Image: Markus Winkler

That hole in your pasta spoon isn’t just for draining water; it can also help measure a perfect portion of dry spaghetti!

A single serving of spaghetti is about the amount that fits through the hole. This design prevents cooking too much or too little, though not all pasta spoons have holes large enough for accurate measuring.

Image: engin akyurt

The latch inside gas pump nozzles was originally designed to shut off fuel flow automatically when the tank is full, not to hold the pump open.

Modern pumps use this mechanism as a safety feature, preventing spills and overflows. In some places, using the latch to hold the nozzle open is even illegal due to fire risks.

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Those metal loops on the back of grocery cart seats aren’t just for show—they’re designed to hold plastic bags with fragile items.

Hanging lighter bags here prevents them from being crushed by heavier groceries in the cart, yet few shoppers take advantage of this simple design. So, next time you go shopping, give it a try—it could be a real lifesaver.

Image: Bam Mccarthy

The hole in a soda can tab isn’t just part of the opening mechanism—it can double as a straw holder. Once you pop the can open, turning the tab around aligns the hole perfectly for a straw. This prevents the straw from floating or shifting while drinking.

While this wasn’t the original intent behind the design, it’s a clever and surprisingly convenient way to make use of an otherwise inconsequential design quirk.

Image: Annie Spratt

If you're like me, this has likely been a brain teaser since childhood: What is the blue side of a two-tone eraser for? Popular wisdom says it's for ink removal, but have you ever tried erasing ink with that side? It just completely obliterates the paper.

Well, it turns out the blue side of a two-tone eraser was actually designed for use on heavier paper, not for removing ink.

Image: Matúš Kameniar

The small bumps on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys exist to help typists find their hand placement without looking.

These tactile guides help your fingers find their way back to the home row, enabling faster and more efficient typing. Even if you're not a professional typist, you can rely on this feature to improve both speed and accuracy while writing.

Image: Monika Guzikowska

Ever watched a monkey peel a banana? You might be in for a surprise, because it turns out the easiest way to peel a banana is from the bottom, not the stem.

Monkeys naturally pinch the bottom of the banana and pull, avoiding the struggle of breaking the tough stem. This method also reduces the risk of squishing the fruit inside.

Image: Brett Jordan

The small hole at the end of a measuring tape is designed to hook onto nails or screws for one-person measurements. This feature provides a more stable grip when measuring long distances without needing an extra set of hands.

Also, the serrated edge on some tapes doubles as a tool for marking surfaces. So, next time you don't have a buddy around to help, don’t worry—your measuring tape has you covered!

Image: Andrea Davis

Many people use the drawer under their oven for storage, but it was originally designed as a warming drawer.

This compartment keeps cooked food warm while the rest of the meal finishes, though in some modern models, it may simply be intended for extra storage. Checking your oven’s manual might reveal its true purpose.

Image: Mockup Free

Ever heard someone say you can judge a good wine by the depth of the indentation at the bottom of the bottle? Well, that’s a myth, though it may suggest a better-designed bottle.

The indent at the bottom of a wine bottle, called a punt, helps distribute pressure and maintain structural integrity. Originally designed to support the bottle against carbonation in sparkling wines, it’s now mostly tradition but still improves durability.