Coccygeal nerve

Coccygeal Nerve

The plan of the lumbosacral plexus, showing the coccygeal nerve at the bottom.

The Coccygeal Nerve is the final pair of spinal nerves that emerge from the spinal cord. It is also known as the Co1 nerve and is part of the sacral plexus. The coccygeal nerve is responsible for the innervation of the skin over the coccyx (tailbone) and the area immediately surrounding it.

Anatomy

The coccygeal nerve is the most inferior of the spinal nerves and is formed from the ventral and dorsal roots of the first coccygeal segment of the spinal cord. It descends in the sacral canal and exits through the sacral hiatus. The nerve then travels to the coccyx and the skin surrounding it.

Function

The coccygeal nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin over the coccyx and the area immediately surrounding it. It also has a minor role in the innervation of the levator ani muscle, which is part of the pelvic floor.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the coccygeal nerve can result in coccydynia, a condition characterized by pain in the coccyx region. This can occur due to trauma, childbirth, or for no apparent reason. Treatment options include pain management, physical therapy, and in severe cases, surgical removal of the coccyx (coccygectomy).

See Also

• Sacral plexus
• Spinal cord
• Coccyx
• Coccydynia