Posterior sacrococcygeal ligament

The posterior sacrococcygeal ligament or dorsal sacrococcygeal ligament is a ligament which stretches from the sacrum to the coccyx and thus dorsally across the sacrococcygeal symphysis shared by these two bones.

Posterior sacrococcygeal ligament
Articulations of pelvis. Posterior view. (Superficial posterior sacrococcygeal ligament labeled at bottom left.)
Details
From	Sacrum
To	Coccyx
Identifiers
Latin	ligamentum sacrococcygeum posterius, ligamentum sacrococcygeum dorsale
FMA	326294
Anatomical terminology

This ligament is divisible in two parts: A short deep part which unites the two bones, and a larger superficial portion which completes the lower back part of the sacral canal. On either side, two lateral sacrococcygeal ligaments run between the transverse processes of the coccyx and the inferior lateral angle of the sacrum.

It is in relation, behind, with the gluteus maximus.

Deep part

The deep dorsal sacrococcygeal ligament (ligamentum sacrococcygeum posterius profundum) is a continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament. A flat band arising inside the sacral canal, posteriorly at the orifice of the fifth sacral segment, it descends to the dorsal surface of the coccyx under its longer fellow described below.

Superficial part

The superficial dorsal sacrococcygeal ligament (ligamentum sacrococcygeum posterius superficiale) originates on the free margin of the sacral hiatus to attach on the dorsal surface of the coccyx. It closes the posterior aspect of the most distal part of the sacral canal and corresponds to the ligamenta flava.

See also

• Anterior sacrococcygeal ligament
• Coccydynia (coccyx pain, tailbone pain)
• Ganglion impar

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 309 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

• Morris, Craig E. (2005). Low Back Syndromes: Integrated Clinical Management. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-137472-8.
• "deep dorsal sacrococcygeal ligament". On-line Medical Dictionary. 2000-03-05. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
• Sinnatamby, Chummy S.; Last, Raymond Jack (2006). Last's Anatomy: Regional and Applied. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 0-443-10033-0.