Why Do Humans Have That Peculiar Hairless Tailbone?

Humans have a small bone at the bottom of our spine called the coccyx. It is often called the tailbone. Long ago, our ancestors had full tails to help them balance in trees. Over millions of years, we did not need big tails as much.

Even though it looks like a leftover piece, your coccyx still does important jobs. Several strong muscles and ligaments attach to it. These help support the organs in your belly and allow you to sit comfortably. If you have ever slammed into a chair hard, you know exactly where this bone is! It acts like an anchor for those muscles. Without it, sitting would feel much less stable.