# What's the medical term for the butt-crack? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 1999, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144 "1999-07-22T23:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 1999, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/1 "1999-07-22T23:00:00Z")
Is there one? And while I’m on the subject, why do all the common words for that type of “structure” starts with a ‘c’? Crack, crevice, crease, canyon, chasm. Are there non-‘c’ words that I just can’t think of? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 1999, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/2 "1999-07-22T23:59:00Z")
Gluteal cleft. And yes, there is one other c-word you’re forgetting, but let’s forget it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/3 "1999-07-23T00:04:00Z")
Cleavage? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/4 "1999-07-23T00:29:00Z")
fissure, rift, rima, rimation, rime, split RAVINE, arroyo, , gap, gorge, gulch , split ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/5 "1999-07-23T00:34:00Z")
Plumbers Crack. This is from CAP; > [@](#): > > Also, the top of Dilbert’s glutei maximi fissure was broadcast for your family viewing enjoyment. I had to look it up. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/6 "1999-07-23T00:49:00Z")
Damn! PapaBear, you beat me to it1 * * * Zymurgist ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/7 "1999-07-23T01:59:00Z")
Abandoning all hope of finding the medically/physiologically appropriate term (or, taking Nickrz’ post as definitive), I’ll post my contributions toward finding a usefull popular term. > [@](#): > > Cleavage? That was my first thought, but it somehow needs a modifier to keep us able to distinguish between the top end of a north bound female and the bottom end of a (pear-shaped, usually) south bound male. I don’t have a punchline - I’m just jamming. Southside cleavage? Butt cleavage? Cleavage best left unseen? “Pull up your pants!” cleavage? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/8 "1999-07-23T02:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > And yes, there is one other c-word you’re forgetting, but let’s forget > it. Uh Nickrz? Close, but they are actually two different areas. Let’s hope you remember this the next time your with a woman. 🙂 * * * \>^,^\< KITTEN Coarse and violent nudity. Occasional language. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/9 "1999-07-23T02:29:00Z")
Hey, he said “structure” and there tain’t much between them! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/10 "1999-07-23T03:31:00Z")
I can think of another c-word, but I’ll keep it to myself 😉 I recall hearing the term Anal Cleft used in a discussion of whats acceptable of TV, back when the thong bikini was just becoming mainstream. It was used on a variety of networks, and in reference to some obsenity laws violated by those bikini hot dog vendors in New York and Miami. Gleutal Cleft seems more accurate, but for some reason they used Anal Cleft. I’m certain that theres a medical name for it, you wouldn’t believe the body parts and regions they’ve named. They even name the areas that don’t have things there, like the space between your fingers. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/11 "1999-07-23T04:39:00Z")
What about the indentation between the nose and upper lip? Always wondered… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/12 "1999-07-23T05:02:00Z")
Snot chute? Actually, if I’m reading my Gray’s Anatomy correctly that would be the “dilatator naris posterior”. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/13 "1999-07-23T05:34:00Z")
I told my kids the name for “butt crack” is vertical smile they loved it! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/14 "1999-07-23T14:39:00Z")
I thought it was called the “Loverock”. Huh huh huh. * * * “Owls will deafen us with their incessant hooting!” W. Smithers ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/15 "1999-07-23T14:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > What about the indentation between the nose and upper lip? Filtrum or philtrum; I’ve seen it spelled both ways. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/16 "1999-07-23T14:56:00Z")
I taught my son filtrum when he was a wee lad (at five he’s now a big boy). He uses the word as one would use “nose” or “chin”. It’s really quite cute. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/17 "1999-07-23T15:02:00Z")
As for the butt-crack, how about posterior rugae. I have this wonderful book titled _The Macmillan Visual Dictionary_ It’s full of pictures with labels. It spells filtrum as philtrum. Cheers, -Sweet,E ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/18 "1999-07-23T15:02:00Z")
And while we’re at it, how about that area between the bottom of the vagina and the anus? I know the official term is “perineum,” but “chin rest” always seemed more appropriate to me. ;^P * * * Live a Lush Life Da Chef ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/19 "1999-07-23T16:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Hey, he said “structure” and there tain’t much between them! ## Cross that fine line and (trust me) it is quite noticable. 😉 \>^,^\< KITTEN Coarse and violent nudity. Occasional language. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 1999, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144/20 "1999-07-24T15:08:00Z")
I could get crude and ask “in which direction am I to travel?” but such things are beneath me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-medical-term-for-the-butt-crack/2144.md?page=2)