# Question regarding capitalization of body parts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 27, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054 "2010-03-27T21:15:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/1 "2010-03-27T21:15:12Z")
I am currently writing a paper that requires referencing a number of muscles in the body. In some of the literature I am reading, the muscle names are capitalized (Rectus Abdominus) and in some it is not (transverse abdominus). Which is correct? ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/2 "2010-03-27T21:30:50Z")
No answer, but I wanted to say that based on the thread title, I thought this would be about figuring the depreciation on donated organs. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/3 "2010-03-27T22:39:49Z")
This is purely a matter of style; there is no single “correct” answer. To decide, you would have to check the Style Guide preferred by the place your paper will appear. If it is just a paper for class, check with the instructor, or else just chose a style and be consistent about it throughout the paper. In general, modern usage tends to favor a “down” style with relatively little capitalization. In the absence of a Style Guide or recommendation from an instructor, I would suggest not capitalizing. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/4 "2010-03-28T00:35:03Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > No answer, but I wanted to say that based on the thread title, I thought this would be about figuring the depreciation on donated organs. I was looking forward to a discussion of pros and cons of lease versus purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/5 "2010-03-28T23:26:02Z")
A few body parts, such as the Eustachian tube, are named after a person and should be capitalized. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/6 "2010-03-29T00:19:05Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > A few body parts, such as the Eustachian tube, are named after a person and should be capitalized. Even though you don’t capitalize “ceasar salad”? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/7 "2010-03-29T02:50:51Z")
I’d take a bet that the cases where you’re seeing them capitalized come from German sources. It’s the Practice in German to capitalize all Nouns. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/8 "2010-03-29T04:47:52Z")
[QUOTE=Munch] Even though you don’t capitalize “ceasar salad”? [/QUOTE] I generally see it capitalized, e.g. [Wiki.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_salad) However, a c-section is usually a caesarian. Capitalization of eponyms is not particularly consistent; e.g. platonic love vs. Platonic solid or Platonic ideal. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/9 "2010-03-29T04:53:55Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > A few body parts, such as the Eustachian tube, are named after a person and should be capitalized. Other examples include the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, the circle of Willis and Broca’s area in the brain, the Fallopian tubes of the uterus, and Henle’s loop in the kidney. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/10 "2010-03-29T20:18:38Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Other examples include the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, the circle of Willis and Broca’s area in the brain, the Fallopian tubes of the uterus, and Henle’s loop in the kidney. There seems to be a general principle that a name used as a noun descriptor (e.g., “circle of Willis”), including possessives (“Broca’s area”) are nearly always capitalized, while there is little or no consistency in adjectival forms (Fallopian or fallopian and Eustachian or eustachian tubes, etc.). While that doesn’t answer the question, it does give guidance regarding approximately half of such usages. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/11 "2010-03-29T23:13:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s the Practice in German to capitalize all Nouns. You mean, it’s the Practice in German all Nouns to capitalize. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/12 "2010-03-29T23:57:25Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > A few body parts, such as the Eustachian tube, are named after a person and should be capitalized. Thank you, Dr. Stephen Tube. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/13 "2010-03-29T23:58:27Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > You mean, it’s the Practice in German all Nouns to capitalize. 😉 What about in Soviet Russia? ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/14 "2010-03-30T00:13:35Z")
As a follow up, I went with capitalizing the muscle, and capitalizing the first letter of a two word muscle (Rectus abdominus). I will let you know if I lose marks for this. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/15 "2010-03-30T02:00:50Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > What about in Soviet Russia? Trick question. In Soviet Russia, there _is_ no Capitalism. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/16 "2010-03-30T02:07:58Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Trick question. In Soviet Russia, there _is_ no Capitalism. Not true! Just ask XAPПO MAPKC but don’t expect an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Maurice1974](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Maurice1974](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maurice1974)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/17 "2017-10-27T13:18:43Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > As a follow up, I went with capitalizing the muscle, and capitalizing the first letter of a two word muscle (Rectus abdominus). I will let you know if I lose marks for this. I am a Primary School Teacher and I teach kids to capitalize People, Places and Things (Nouns). Would you class what you are writing about as Nouns? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054/18 "2017-10-27T14:15:48Z")
> [@Maurice1974](#): > > I am a Primary School Teacher and I teach kids to capitalize People, Places and Things (Nouns). Would you class what you are writing about as Nouns? **Moderator Note** **Maurice1974** , that is completely incorrect (unless you are writing in German). In any case, the question asked by the OP appears to have been resolved seven years ago shortly after the thread was opened. Since we prefer that old threads in GQ only be opened to provide new information (preferably accurate), this is closed. Colibri General Questions Moderator