Sacral dimple
Sacral Dimple
Sacral Dimple (pronounced: SAY-kruhl DIM-puhl) is a small indentation, or "dimple," in the lower back, near or on the sacrum. The sacrum is a triangular bone at the base of the spine, located just above the tailbone.
Etymology
The term "sacral" is derived from the Latin word "sacrum," which means "sacred bone." The term "dimple" comes from the Old English word "dyppan," meaning "to dip." Thus, a sacral dimple is a small dip or indentation in the sacred bone area.
Description
A sacral dimple is usually present at birth and is noticed during the newborn physical examination. Most sacral dimples are harmless and do not require any treatment. However, if the dimple is very deep, or if it is accompanied by a nearby tuft of hair, skin discoloration, or skin tag, then it may be associated with a serious underlying abnormality of the spine or spinal cord, such as spina bifida or tethered cord syndrome.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a sacral dimple is usually made through a physical examination. If the doctor suspects an underlying condition, further tests such as an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be recommended.
Treatment
Most sacral dimples do not require any treatment as they do not cause any health problems. If an underlying spinal condition is discovered, treatment will depend on the specific condition and may include surgery or other interventions.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sacral dimple
- Wikipedia's article - Sacral dimple
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski