ABANYALA BA KAKAMEGA: Names of Body Bones

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Abanyala ba Kakamega have (had) indigenous knowledge of efficiently treating various degrees of bone fractures in animals and human using herbal medicine- without carrying out any body operation. A person who treats bones is called omuwamba (pl. abawamba).

The human bone specialists, abawamba, have names of various bones they interact with during treatment of animals and human. Also, those who are specialists in skinning animals, ababaaki, are good at identifying the various bones by their names. 

Big human bones are called amakumba (ekumba in singular) while smaller ones are called ebikumba (esikumba in singular). Small thin bones such as those of fish and snake are called ebibakaya (olubakaya in singular).

The following are some of  the names that relate to bone.
  1. Bones in thoracic area of body
    1. Ekhookho- collection of bones that form the ribcage.
    2. Esirifu- all the front chest bones area.
    3. Olubafu- rib
    4. Olubafu'luakukha- floating rib.
    5. Olubikho- the body of sternum that runs down the middle of chest.
    6. Olufuba- the manubrum of the sternum found near the front neck area. 

    7. Olukongofuma- backbone. 
    8. Oluoyo- the tail end of sternum called the xiphoid process. Children born without it have to receive herbal medication made from olweyo to improve their breathing.
  2. Bones related to abdominal parts of the body.
    1. Eliendukhu- end part of the thigh bone where it joins the hip bone in a knob; the greater trachender area.
    2. Engutie- coccyx bone at end of spinal chord.

    3. Epooki- one of the five backbone discs that forms the lumbre vertebrae counted from end of the thoracic  vertabtae and abdominal vertebrae. They have no ribs or other bones attached on them. The joint area of one disc to the other is called enyingo.
    4. Esikhuulu-
      1. Ebaachwa- each of two ilium bone that form part of the hip bone.
      2. Oluena- Each of the two pubis bones that are part of the hip bones.
      3. Olukhukunyu- the ischial tuberosity bone or buttock bones that are part of the hip bone. They are useful in sitting.
    5. Olukutie- Sacrum bone at end of spinal chord. Also called olusundi.
  3. Bones related to the head.
    1. Amachiimo- strange form of false teeth that a child is born with. Usually removed.
    2. Ekeko- molar tooth
    3. Ekhandiaki- canine tooth
    4. Ekhong'o- perietal bone
    5. Ekhoono- neck end of accipital bone.
    6. Elino- tooth
    7. Omukuba- nosal bone.
    8. Engooro- occipital bone
    9. Enjekhero- incisors
    10. Esenge- premolers
    11. Ebi'olukoki- ethmoid bones that holds the eyes also called orbital plates.
    12. Esianga- skull 

    13. Esing'eng'e (esing'ang'a)- maxilla bone
    14. Esiumo- frontal bone
    15. Esiunchu- temporal bone
    16. Olukino- sphenoid bone
    17. Olunyanyiro-  mandible bone
    18. Oluseya- cheekbone or zygomatic bone.
    19. Owuchichi- milk teeth.
  4. Bones related to legs
    1. Ebikhaandaki- Tarsal bones
    2. Eliakachi- thighbone or femur.
    3. Esio- kneecap or patella
    4. Esitiengetie- latetal and medial malleulus bones
    5. Olukotio- talus bone just above the heelbone.
    6. Olusisiro- Calcaneus
    7. Omuluku- fibula
    8. Omululi- shin or Tibia
  5. Bones related to hand
    1. Ebiekhumbu- corpal and metacamorpal vones found in the palm.
    2. Ebiepooki- the middle phalanx and distal phalanx bones found in fingers.
    3. Engong'i- the proximal phalanx bones that form the knuckles. 

    4. Esiakachi- humerus or the armbone. Also called olubaambala.
    5. Esikutuli- wrist bone.
    6. Esikuwuli- the elbow bone or the olecranon part.
    7. Esiluku- the ulnar of the hand.
    8. Esiluli- the radius of the hand.
  6. Bones related to kneck
    1. Ebikhokho-  stacked column of cervical vertebrae bones below the first atlas bone. They form the top part of the spinal chord column.
    2. Ekosi- general name for the entire cervical vertebrae bones that form the neck. 

    3. Elingolingo- collarbone or neckbone
    4. Oluchibi- first cervical vertebrae bone into which the head fits for support also called the atlas. 

  7. Bones related to shoulder
    1. Ebeka- collection of shoulder bones.
    2. Olukanga- wingborne where it joins the armbone.
    3. Olunikho- the wide end of the shoulder blade. 
  8. Other general names related with bones
    1. Ekhambalia- scale. Also used for tortoise shell.
    2. Ekhongoiko- snail shell
    3. Enyingo- joint.
    4. Epangalia- tortoise shell
    5. Epwenge- egg shell
    6. Esianganga- skeleton.
    7. Esikhekeyu- hoof. 

    8. Esimbi- sea shell.
    9. Esipepenu- cartilage
    10. Eteche-nail, tolon and claws.
    11. Oluchekeche- porcupine spike 

    12. Olugweri- warthog  tooth 

    13. Olwika'njeko- antler
    14. Olwika- horn 

    15. Omunwa- beak.
    16. Omusanga- elephant tusk 

    17. m

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