sacrotuberale

The sacrotuberal ligament, also known as the sacrotuberous ligament (Latin: ligamentum sacrotuberale), is a thick, fibrous band of the pelvis. It extends from the sacrum and coccyx to the ischial tuberosity and lies in the posterior pelvic region.

Anatomy and attachments: The ligament originates from the posterior aspect of the sacrum and coccyx (and, in some texts, near the posterior superior iliac spine) and inserts onto the ischial tuberosity. It is one of the key posterior sacral ligaments and lies near the origins of several pelvic structures. Together with the sacrospinous ligament, it helps convert the greater sciatic notch into the greater sciatic foramen and contributes to the boundary separating the greater and lesser sciatic foramina.

Function: The sacrotuberal ligament plays a major role in stabilizing the sacrum and transferring weight from the spine to the pelvis. By resisting sacral nutation (anterior tilting of the sacrum), it helps maintain pelvic stability during stance and locomotion.

Clinical notes: Variations in ligamentous laxity or injury can contribute to pelvic girdle instability and buttock or lower back pain in some individuals. The ligament is an important anatomical landmark during regional anesthesia and pelvic procedures, and nearby neurovascular structures, including branches that accompany the pudendal nerve, traverse the area as they pass between the pelvic foramina.