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Coccygeus Muscle
Muscular System

Coccygeus Muscle

Musculus coccygeus

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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.

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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).

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Coccygeus Muscle

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The coccygeus muscle arises from the ischial spine and attaches to the coccyx posterior to the levator ani.

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Complete Anatomy

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