The tailbone, also known as the coccyx, is the small, triangular bony structure at the very bottom of the vertebral column. It consists of three to five vertebrae fused together and serves as an attachment site for various muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Despite being a vestigial structure with no significant function in humans, the tailbone plays a role in supporting and stabilizing the body in a seated position and helps with the movement of the pelvis.
Tailbone pain can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include trauma to the tailbone, prolonged sitting on an unpadded seat or cycling.