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The Intriguing History of the Term Sacrum

The origin of the term sacrum is not completely clear. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the anatomic "sacrum" entered the English language in 1753 (Medicinet, 2008). The os sacrum was so named by the Romans as a direct translation from the older Greek hieron osteon, which translates to “sacred” or “holy.” It was used in sacrificial rites and in protecting the genitalia (which in ancient times were considered sacred). The German word for sacrum is Kreuzbein, which means “crossbone,” and infers the holiness associated with the cross of crucifixion. In some English translations of Galen’s work, the word “crossbone,” is synonymous with hieron osteon. Another translation for heiron…

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The sacrum, the triangular, pitted central bone, is a complex, multifaceted cog, performing numerous functions. It is crucial for load-bearing, supporting the entire spine above it, and for accommodating the spinal nerves; it articulates with the hip bones, connects with the final lumbar vertebrae, above, and the coccyx, or tailbone, below. Strong ligaments connect it to the ilium bones of the pelvis: these joints are L-shaped and capable of a small amount of movement.

Articles of Interest

Understanding the Role of the Sacral Spine in Your Health

When people think about spinal health, the focus often falls on the neck or lower back, but the sacral spine plays an equally vital role in supporting your body. Located at the base of the spine, the sacrum is a triangular-shaped bone that connects the spine to the pelvis, acting as a foundation for stability, movement, and balance. Beyond providing structural support, the sacral spine also protects important nerves that influence your legs, hips, and pelvic organs. Understanding the sacrum’s functions and the conditions that can affect it is essential for maintaining overall spinal health and preventing long-term discomfort.

How the Sacrum Got Its Name

The os sacrum (sacred bone) was so named by the Romans as a direct translation from the older Greek hieron osteon. Explanations of the attribute "sacred" or "holy" in the past have included misinterpretation of the Greek word hieron, use of the bone in sacrificial rites, the role of the bone in protecting the genitalia (themselves considered sacred), and the necessity for the intactness of this bone as a nidus for resurrection at the Day of Judgment. A more plausible explanation may be that the holiness of the sacral bone was an attribute borrowed from the ancient Egyptians, who considered this bone sacred to Osiris...

Low Back Pain’s Missing Link: Diagnosing the Sacroiliac Joint

According to published scientific literature, up to 30 percent of all low back symptoms are sacroiliac joint in origin, but the diagnosis of a problem with the sacroiliac joint is frequently overlooked because low back pain symptoms have many causes as well as hip joint symptoms. In fact, many patients with disabling low back pain issues go on to receive lumbar spinal treatments and/or hip treatments. Although the source of their symptoms may be sacroiliac joint in origin, either in whole or in part, leaving these patients with little or, in some cases, no relief.

SI Joint Problems Are a Sneaky Cause of Back Pain. Here’s What to Know

Pregnancy, injury, and playing sports can do a number on them.

The key role of the sacrum in healthy movement control and pain free performance

The sacrum or ‘sacred bone’ is a key link in the movement chain. It is both the base of the spine and part of the pelvic ring. Articulating with the two innominates on either side; L5 above and the coccyx below, it has a decoupling role between movements of the spine, pelvis and hips.

The Mysteries of the Sacrum Revealed

For years, Jan H. Sultan, Advanced Rolfing® instructor of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute®, has been developing a coherent approach to the mysteries of the sacrum from the structural integration perspective. In this interview, Sultan gives insight into some of the biomechanical and physiological movements of the sacrum and a few suggested applications to resolving common strain patterns in the low back region.

The Sacred Role of the Sacrum: How Your Tailbone Supports Movement, Nerves, and Whole-Body Health

The sacrum is located at the very end of our spine and is held floating in place by many ligaments in the center of the pelvis. It is important in allowing us to stand straight and walk on our two legs. Its ability to move within the pelvis enables babies to enter the world. For most of us, this bone consists of five vertebrae fused together. At the very tip of it is a different bone called the coccyx, which has its own remarkable function. If we focus just on the bony aspect of the structure, we can see how beautifully it’s placed in the body’s midline.

The Sacrum Paradox: Keystone or Suspension?

Whether the sacrum functions as a keystone or is suspended from the ilia has been debated for well over one hundred years. In the early 1990s Vleeming and Stoeckart and, separately, Snijders, published their findings that the sacrum fits into a receptacle, like a keystone in a Roman Arch. On the other hand, DeJarnette states that the sacrum does not touch the ilia.

The Sacrum: Your Body’s Stability Anchor That No One Talks About

The sacrum is one of the most misunderstood bones in the body — yet it’s the keystone of the entire spine. It links your lumbar vertebrae to your pelvis and controls how force moves through your legs with every step you take. What Makes the Sacrum Unique It’s five fused vertebrae (S1–S5). It anchors the pelvic floor, glutes, and deep core. It is home to the sacral nerve plexus, which controls legs, hips, bladder, and digestion. It holds the origin point of the sciatic nerve.

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Kenhub

Sacrum is sexually dimorphic. It is shorter and wider in females than in males. In females, the sacrum is also distributed more obliquely backwards which increases the size of the pelvic cavity, making it more convenient for enduring pregnancy and offering more space for the developing fetus.

Physiopedia

The sacrum is made of five fused vertebrae configured as an inverted triangular bone that is concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly. Within the sacrum lies the sacral canal, which is a continuation of the vertebral canal. It terminates as the sacral hiatus. Though the spinal cord ends in the lumbar region (L1-L2), the dura mater extends to S2. Also contained within the canal is the filum terminale, a ligament that extends from the conus medullaris and attaches to the base of the coccyx (serving as an anchor for the spinal cord).

Radiopaedia

The sacrum is an irregularly shaped bone, shaped roughly like an inverted triangle, with its base superior and apex inferior. It is curved with an anterior concavity and posterior convexity. The sacrum consists of five fused sacral vertebral and costal segments (S1-S5) that form a central sacral body and paired sacral alae (singular ala), which arise laterally from S1.

TeadhMe Anatomy

The sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the terminal end of the vertebral column. It forms the posterior wall of the pelvis and plays a key role in weight transmission from the axial skeleton to the pelvic girdle and lower limbs.