Dimples of Venus

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Dimples of venus
lateral lumbar fossa
Dimples of Venus while seated (with arrows).jpg
The lower back of a sitting woman, with the dimples of Venus indicated by the two arrows
Michaelis rhombus in different age groups.jpg
Michaelis rhombus in different age groups
Details
Identifiers
Latin fossae lumbales laterales [1]
TA2 273
FMA 20209
Anatomical terminology

The dimples of Venus (also known as back dimples, Duffy Dimples, butt dimples or Veneral dimples) are sagittally symmetrical indentations sometimes visible on the human lower back, just superior to the gluteal cleft. They are directly superficial to the two sacroiliac joints, the sites where the sacrum attaches to the ilium of the pelvis. An imaginary line joining both dimples of Venus passes over the spinous process of the second sacral vertebra. [2]

Contents

Overview

The term "dimples of Venus", while informal, is a historically accepted name within the medical profession for the superficial topography of the sacroiliac joints. The Latin name is fossae lumbales laterales ("lateral lumbar indentations"). These indentations are created by a short ligament stretching between the posterior superior iliac spine and the skin.

Named after Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty, they are sometimes believed to be a mark of beauty. The features may be seen on both female and male backs, but seem to be more common and more prominent in women. When seen in men, they are called "dimples of Apollo", named after the Greco-Roman god of male beauty.

Another use of the term "dimples of Venus" in surgical anatomy refers to two symmetrical indentations on the posterior aspect of the sacrum, which also contain a venous channel. They are used as a landmark for finding the superior articular facets of the sacrum as a guide to place sacral pedicle screws in spine surgery. [3]

However, back dimples are largely genetically predetermined and can only be altered within limits. A study by the American Exercise Council is said to have shown that an average of 22 per cent body fat in women and 32 per cent body fat in men improves the visibility of these dimples. [4] Further research has shown that the lumbar dimples have an effect on the anatomy of the spinal-pelvic junction. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between low back pain and the presence of these dimples. [5]

In the 2010s, back dimples became a popular location for women to get transdermal body piercings. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacrum</span> Bone of the spine

The sacrum, in human anatomy, is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms by the fusing of the sacral vertebrae (S1–S5) between ages 18 and 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinal nerve</span> Nerve that carries signals between the spinal cord and the body

A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the corresponding cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions of the spine. There are eight pairs of cervical nerves, twelve pairs of thoracic nerves, five pairs of lumbar nerves, five pairs of sacral nerves, and one pair of coccygeal nerves. The spinal nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumbar vertebrae</span> Five bones of the spine in the lower back

The lumbar vertebrae are located between the thoracic vertebrae and pelvis. They form the lower part of the human back in humans, and the tail end of the back in quadrupeds. In humans, there are five lumbar vertebrae. The term is used to describe the anatomy of humans and quadrupeds, such as horses, pigs, or cattle. These bones are found in particular cuts of meat, including tenderloin or sirloin steak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacroiliac joint</span> Joint of the pelvis and spine

The sacroiliac joint or SI joint (SIJ) is the joint between the sacrum and the ilium bones of the pelvis, which are connected by strong ligaments. In humans, the sacrum supports the spine and is supported in turn by an ilium on each side. The joint is strong, supporting the entire weight of the upper body. It is a synovial plane joint with irregular elevations and depressions that produce interlocking of the two bones. The human body has two sacroiliac joints, one on the left and one on the right, that often match each other but are highly variable from person to person.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multifidus muscle</span> Muscle in the back

The multifidusmuscle consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous fasciculi, which fill up the groove on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, from the sacrum to the axis. While very thin, the multifidus muscle plays an important role in stabilizing the joints within the spine. The multifidus is one of the transversospinales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacrotuberous ligament</span>

The sacrotuberous ligament is situated at the lower and back part of the pelvis. It is flat, and triangular in form; narrower in the middle than at the ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erector spinae muscles</span> Human muscle group

The erector spinae or spinal erectors is a set of muscles that straighten and rotate the back. The spinal erectors work together with the glutes to maintain stable posture standing or sitting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Median sacral artery</span>

The median sacral artery is a small artery that arises posterior to the abdominal aorta and superior to its bifurcation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal iliac vein</span> Large blood vessel of the pelvis

The internal iliac vein begins near the upper part of the greater sciatic foramen, passes upward behind and slightly medial to the internal iliac artery and, at the brim of the pelvis, joins with the external iliac vein to form the common iliac vein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior superior iliac spine</span> Part of the human hip bone

The posterior border of the ala, shorter than the anterior, also presents two projections separated by a notch, the posterior superior iliac spine and the posterior inferior iliac spine. The posterior superior iliac spine serves for the attachment of the oblique portion of the posterior sacroiliac ligaments and the multifidus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacrococcygeal symphysis</span> Joint in the pelvis

The sacrococcygeal symphysis is an amphiarthrodial joint, formed between the oval surface at the apex of the sacrum, and the base of the coccyx.

The lumbar fascia is the lumbar portion of the thoracolumbar fascia. It consists of three fascial layers - posterior, middle, and anterior - that enclose two muscular compartments. The anterior and middle layers occur only in the lumbar region, whereas the posterior layer extends superiorly to the inferior part of the neck, and the inferiorly to the dorsal surface of the sacrum. The quadratus lumborum is contained in the anterior muscular compartment, and the erector spinae in the posterior compartment. Psoas major lies anterior to the anterior layer. Various superficial muscles of the posterior thorax and abdomen arise from the posterior layer - namely the latissimus dorsi, and serratus posterior inferior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip bone</span> Bone of the pelvis

The hip bone is a large flat bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below. In some vertebrates it is composed of three parts: the ilium, ischium, and the pubis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacroiliac joint dysfunction</span> Medical condition

The term sacroiliac joint dysfunction refers to abnormal motion in the sacroiliac joint, either too much motion or too little motion, that causes pain in this region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelvis</span> Lower torso of the human body

The pelvis is the lower part of an anatomical trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs, together with its embedded skeleton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertebral column</span> Bony structure found in vertebrates

The vertebral column, also known as the spinal column, spine or backbone, is the core part of the axial skeleton in vertebrate animals. The vertebral column is the defining and eponymous characteristic of the vertebrate endoskeleton, where the notochord found in all chordates has been replaced by a segmented series of mineralized irregular bones called vertebrae, separated by fibrocartilaginous intervertebral discs. The dorsal portion of the vertebral column houses the spinal canal, an elongated cavity formed by alignment of the vertebral neural arches that encloses and protects the spinal cord, with spinal nerves exiting via the intervertebral foramina to innervate each body segments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertebra</span> Bone in the vertebral column

Each vertebra is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal segment and the particular species.

The sacroiliac joint is a paired joint in the pelvis that lies between the sacrum and an ilium. Due to its location in the lower back, a dysfunctional sacroiliac joint may cause lower back and/or leg pain. The resulting leg pain can be severe, resembling sciatica or a slipped disc. While nonsurgical treatments are effective for some, others have found that surgery for the dysfunctional sacroiliac joint is the only method to relieve pain.

Spinal posture is the position of the spine in the human body. It is debated what the optimal spinal posture is, and whether poor spinal posture causes lower back pain. Good spinal posture may help develop balance, strength and flexibility.

References

  1. Kollmann, D. Julius (1910). Plastische anatomie des menschlichen körpers für künstler und freunde der kunst. Leipzig: Veit & Comp. pp. 50, 398.
  2. Moore, Keith (2005). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (5th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p.  534. ISBN   0781736390.
  3. Youmans Neurological Surgery; 5th ed., 2004
  4. Sabrina Nickel: ‘’‘Dimples of Venus’‘’. Focus online, https://www.focus.de/panorama/videos/gruebchen-der-venus-wenn-sie-diese-punkte-am-ruecken-haben-haben-wir-gute-nachrichten-fuer-sie_id_5725754.html.
  5. Kürşad Aytekin; Orhan Balta: ‘’Dimple of Venus Is Associated with the Increased Pelvic Incidence Angle and More Sagittally Oriented Facet Joint‘’. Med Princ Pract (2023) 32 (3): 209-216.
  6. Lori. "Getting Back Dimple Piercings, Healing & Best Ideas". FMag.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.