Quick Facts
Origin: In or just medial to the first sacral foramen.
Course: Medially from the sacral hiatus and superiorly within the vertebral canal towards the posterior surface of the appropriate spinal cord level.
Branches: Unnamed rootlets just prior to entering the spinal cord.
Supply: Sensory innervation to the skin over the coccyx.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior root of the first sacral nerve originates in, or just medial, to the sacral hiatus. It is at this point that the first sacral nerve splits into anterior and posterior roots.
Course
The posterior root of the coccygeal nerve runs medially through the sacral hiatus into the vertebral canal. Here it runs superiorly towards its corresponding spinal cord level in a large bundle of nerve roots called the cauda equina. The posterior root splits into smaller rootlets before entering the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord.
Branches
The posterior root of the coccygeal nerve branches into several smaller rootlets shortly before entering the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord.
Supplied Structures & Function
The posterior root of the coccygeal nerve supplies sensory innervation to the skin over the coccyx.
