Anatomical naming of the bones and organs of humans was nearly always done by men. The medical profession in the 19th century was almost entirely male so female anatomy was nearly always named by men.
In a recent episode of the ABC’s Late Night Live (19 June) Dr Adam Taor (author of Bodypedia) and Dr Nisha Khot (President-elect of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) discussed anatomical eponyms—parts of the body named after people—and questioned whether parts of female anatomy should be called after men.
Female anatomy eponyms
The doctors stated that of the 700 anatomical terms reviewed, 432 were named after individuals. Only one was a woman—Raissa Nitabuch, a 19th-century Russian pathologist. The Nitabuch layer is a thin boundary in the placenta visible only under a microscope. All the rest were from men:
- Fallopian tubes—narrow tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus; the usual site of egg fertilisation—named after Gabriele Falloppio, a 16th-century Italian anatomist
- Bartholin’s glands—two small glands near the vaginal opening that secrete fluid to lubricate the vulva—named after Caspar Bartholin, a Danish anatomist
- Skene’s glands—glands located near the urethra, sometimes linked to female ejaculation—named after Alexander Skene, a 19th-century Scottish gynaecologist
- Pouch of Douglas—the lowest point of the peritoneal cavity, between the uterus and rectum—named after James Douglas, a Scottish anatomist
- G-spot—a debated area within the anterior vaginal wall thought to be erotically sensitive—the “G” stands for Ernst Gräfenberg, a German-born gynaecologist.
- Hunter’s canal—a passage in the thigh through which the femoral artery and nerve travel—John Hunter, a Scottish surgeon was known both for anatomical breakthroughs and ethically dubious practices.
- One of the most gendered names Bundle of His—a group of heart muscle fibres that regulate heartbeat—is named after Wilhelm His Jr., a Swiss anatomist, eugenicist and supporter of Nazi racial “science”.
Prudish times
The pudendal nerve, which controls sensation in the genitals comes from Latin “pudere”—to be ashamed. The term pudendum thus connects female anatomy with shame, a reflection of the prudish 19th century that produced these terms.
Calls for change
Dr Khot argued on the program that anatomical language should change to be more descriptive and neutral to reflect form and function rather than memorialise long-deceased anatomists, some of whom do not deserve being remembered. She proposed, for instance, “uterine tubes” instead of “fallopian tubes.”
Renaming female anatomy isn’t urgent. Providing equitable access to health care is. A full-scale renaming campaign would mean confronting tradition, rewriting textbooks, and educating the global medical community.
Should we rename female anatomy to reflect what they are—or leave historical terms in place?