Quick Facts
Origin: Ischial spine.
Insertion: Anterolateral aspects of sacrum and coccyx.
Action: Provides structural support to adjacent pelvic structures.
Innervation: Anterior rami of fourth and fifth sacral nerves (S4-S5).
Arterial Supply: Inferior gluteal artery.
Origin
The coccygeus muscle originates from the ischial spine.
Insertion
The fibers of the coccygeus muscle travel posteromedially and insert, via a broad tendon, onto the:
- anterolateral aspect of the inferior area of the sacrum;
- anterolateral aspect of the superior area of the coccyx.
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The coccygeus (ischiococcygeus) muscle is one of the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm. It is a flat, triangular skeletal muscle that forms the posterosuperior part of the pelvic diaphragm. It is located:
- anterior to the sacrospinous ligament, which it may also be attached to;
- superior to the iliococcygeus muscle of the levator ani;
- inferior to the piriformis muscle.
Actions
As part of the pelvic diaphragm, the coccygeus muscle provides structural support to adjacent pelvic structures (Sinnatamby, 2011).
List of Clinical Correlates
- Prolapse of pelvic viscera
- Urinary incontinence
- Fecal incontinence
References
Sinnatamby, C. S. (2011) Last's Anatomy: Regional and Applied. ClinicalKey 2012: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
Actions
As part of the pelvic diaphragm, the coccygeus muscle provides structural support to adjacent pelvic structures (Sinnatamby, 2011).
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Coccygeus Muscle
The coccygeus muscle is triangular in shape, reinforcing the posterior pelvic floor by arising from the ischial spine and inserting on the lower sacral–coccygeal bones and is contiguous with the sacrospinous ligament.
