Sacrum, Posterior View

Description

Arising inferior to L5, the posterior surface of the male sacrum is presented with the median sacral crest running in the midline, flanked bilaterally by the intermediate sacral crests over the fused articular processes and the lateral sacral crests formed by remnants of the transverse processes. Four pairs of posterior (dorsal) sacral foramina punctuate the dorsal surface, aligned inferolaterally from the base toward the apex, where the sacrum tapers to meet the coccyx. Superiorly, the broad sacral base relates to the lumbosacral junction, while the inferior sacral hiatus region and sacral cornua define the caudal end of the sacral canal. Clear bony landmarks. This posterior perspective matters when teaching or planning procedures that rely on dorsal sacral landmarks rather than the pelvic (anterior) surface. Palpation and fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance for caudal epidural injection target the sacral hiatus and cornua, while posterior sacral foramina provide orientation for posterior sacral nerve targets in chronic pelvic pain and sacral neuromodulation workflows. The relationship of the sacral canal to the fused laminae and crests also helps explain patterns of congenital variation such as spina bifida occulta at the lower sacrum. Use this artwork in gross anatomy and musculoskeletal modules covering the lumbosacral spine, or in procedural teaching materials for anesthesia and pain medicine that need reliable posterior sacral surface anatomy. It also suits textbooks and patient-facing diagrams discussing the sacrum, coccyx, and pelvic ring mechanics in the male pelvis. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.