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Related terms:
intervertebral disk
lumbar vertebrae
sacrum
spinal canal
vertebral column
thoracic vertebrae
cervical vertebrae
Anatomy
coccyx Audio
coc·cyx [ kok-siks ]
Subclass of:
Vertebral column
Etymology:
Greek kokkyx = cuckoo
This term was adopted for anatomy by Herophilus some three centuries B.C., probably from a supposed resemblance of this bone to the beak of the cuckoo.
Definitions related to bone structure of coccyx:
  • (coccyx) A small bone located at the bottom of the spine. The coccyx is a result of 3-5 fused rudimentary vertebrae.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (coccyx) The last bone in the VERTEBRAL COLUMN in tailless primates considered to be a vestigial tail-bone consisting of three to five fused VERTEBRAE.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • (coccyx) The small bone at the bottom of the spine. It is made up of 3-5 fused bones.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Coccyx, curved, semiflexible lower end of the backbone (vertebral column) in apes and humans, representing a vestigial tail. It is composed of three to five successively smaller caudal (coccygeal) vertebrae. The first is a relatively well-defined vertebra and connects with the sacrum; the last is...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.

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