Coccygeale

Coccygeale is an adjective used to describe structures, features, or conditions related to the coccyx, the small triangular bone at the base of the spine. In English, the equivalent term is coccygeal, and coccygeale may appear in non-English or regional medical writings as a form of the same descriptor.

Anatomy and location: The coccyx typically consists of three to five fused rudimentary vertebrae. It articulates with the sacrum at the sacrococcygeal joint and forms part of the posterior end of the pelvic skeleton. The region serves as an attachment site for ligaments and the coccygeus muscle, and it provides limited structural support for standing and sitting, with movements that can help alter sitting pressure.

Terminology and etymology: The term coccygeal (and its cognates such as coccygeale in some languages) derives from the coccyx, whose name traces back to Greek kokkyx, meaning cuckoo, a reference to the bone’s shape. The adjectival form is widely used in anatomy to designate relations to the coccyx, including coccygeal vertebrae, nerves, and regions.

Clinical relevance: Pain in the coccygeal region is known as coccydynia and can follow trauma, prolonged sitting, or childbirth. Management ranges from conservative measures—such as cushions, activity modification, and physical therapy—to pharmacological analgesia or injections. In rare cases of persistent, severe pain, surgical removal of the coccyx (coccygectomy) may be considered.

See also: Coccyx; Coccygeal nerves; Pelvic floor.