coccygealis

Coccygealis is the anatomical Latin adjective meaning "of the coccyx" and is used to describe structures related to the coccyx, the small bone at the distal end of the vertebral column. In medical terminology, coccygealis appears in phrases such as nervus coccygealis (coccygeal nerve) or ligaments coccygeales, indicating their relationship to the tailbone.

The coccyx, or tailbone, normally consists of three to five rudimentary coccygeal vertebrae, with four being most common in adults. These vertebrae are typically fused into a single bone by adulthood and form a distal extension of the sacrum. The coccyx articulates with the sacrum at the sacrococcygeal joint and serves as an attachment site for several muscles and ligaments, including portions of the pelvic floor muscles (such as the levator ani and coccygeus) and ligaments like the anococcygeal body and sacrococcygeal ligaments. The region is innervated mainly by the coccygeal nerve (Co1) and contributions from adjacent sacral nerves, forming part of the coccygeal plexus.

Developmentally, the coccyx arises from caudal segments during embryogenesis and tends to fuse with age. Variability exists in the number of coccygeal vertebrae, and some individuals retain unfused elements.

Clinical relevance includes coccygodynia, pain in the coccygeal region often triggered by trauma, prolonged sitting, or childbirth. Evaluation may involve history, physical examination, and imaging. Treatment is typically conservative, including cushion use, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications; injections or, rarely, surgical coccygectomy may be considered in persistent cases.