coccyx

Everyday

The small bone at the very bottom of the spine, made of tiny bones joined together; also called the tailbone. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about the skeleton it is often called a leftover of a tail from long-ago ancestors. In everyday life people hurt it when they fall on their bottom. Phrases: "bruise your coccyx", "tailbone".

Examples

• The coccyx is at the bottom of your spine. tree →
• I fell on the ice and hurt my coccyx. tree →
• Another name for the coccyx is the tailbone. tree →
• Scientists think the coccyx is a leftover from a tail. tree →
• The coccyx helps hold muscles in place when you sit. tree →

Note

Pronounced "KOK-six". Plural: coccyges ("kok-SY-jeez") or coccyxes. It still has a job (holding muscles), so it is not completely useless.