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Which part of the human anatomy is named for its resemblance to a cuckoo's beak?

Question #150317. Asked by psnz.
Last updated Dec 14 2023.
Originally posted Dec 14 2023 9:19 PM.

BigTriviaDawg

Answer has 2 votes

BigTriviaDawg

7 year member
1007 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.

The word coccyx. The coccyx is the base vertebrae of the spine and resembles the beak of a cuckoo bird beak from the side. See the two images below. I don't see the similarity, but apparently, the folks in the 1600s thought so!

The word coccyx is derived from the Greek word for the beak of a cuckoo bird because of the similarity in appearance when the latter is viewed from the side.3,5,6 The coccyx is a triangular bone that consists of 3 to 5 fused segments, the largest of which articulates with the lowest sacral segment.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3963058/

https://www.etymonline.com/word/coccyx

https://images.app.goo.gl/y1Jwq5DEHvLCfhkJ7

https://images.app.goo.gl/ohnNA8781BE7vrKH8

Response last updated by BigTriviaDawg on Dec 14 2023.
Dec 14 2023, 9:21 PM

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Which part of the human anatomy is named for its resemblance to a cuckoo's beak?

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