This area was first charted by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04, under Nordenskjöld. Both Zenker Ridge and Osmic Hill were named by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) following their sketch survey in 1951, both names being derived from chemical fixatives (Zenker's fixative and Osmic acid) used in biological work by the FIDS.
This region was initially mapped by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04, under Nordenskjöld. Both Zenker Ridge and Osmic Hill were designated by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) following their reconnaissance in 1951, both names being derived from chemical preservatives (Zenker's fixative and Osmic acid) used in biological research by the FIDS.