What are back dimples?

Dimples of Venus refer to the two small depressions located above the sacrum and at the junction of the lower back. These indentations form on either side of a slightly protruding rhomboid area created by thinner muscle regions over the spinal bones. The anatomical term for these dimples is "sacral dimples," with the deep structures corresponding to the posterior superior iliac spines; a line connecting the bilateral sacral dimples typically passes through the spinous process of the second sacral vertebra. This feature is visible in over 2% of infants and, in rare cases, may indicate spina bifida or potential abnormalities of the sacrum or spinal cord. However, the presence of these dimples is mostly related to genetic factors and is generally not a pathological sign.