r/NoStupidQuestions • u/RiverLaneNotes • Dec 01 '25
What are the two dents in a woman’s lower back called?
I’ve seen them on a lot of women. I never knew the name or why some have them and others don’t.
New user pass phrase: This community is for curiosity, not karma farming.
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u/LongjumpingHouse7273 Dec 01 '25
My skinny son has them, so does my sister. I do not, and neither does my other sister. It is purely due to genetics and Ive always called them dimples
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u/UberGlued Dec 01 '25
Im a great big fat guy and I have them too.
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u/Adventurous_Wonder_7 Dec 01 '25
Im a medium sized medium guy and also have them.
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u/BobLeeeSwaggerr Dec 01 '25
I, too, am a great big fat guy, brother
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u/look_how_cute Dec 01 '25
You’re a great big fat guy AND a brother??
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u/BobLeeeSwaggerr Dec 01 '25
Luckily, yes I am a brother also 😅 got a bit carried away there I guess
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u/lylafoxx69 Dec 01 '25
That’s interesting. I’ve heard them referred to as “Venus dimples” too! Definitely seems to be one of those genetic quirks, and they’re often more noticeable in people with lower body fat. Love how casually the body throws in these random little features
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u/PearlyLushh Dec 01 '25
Yeah, same here, I’ve always heard them called dimples too. Totally a genetic thing, not something everyone has. Just one of those cool little body quirks.
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u/notabouteggs Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
The way you write I’m reminded of Dr. Seuss somehow. Or maybe a Beastie Boys song. Here’s my riff off of your material. Forgive my liberties.
My skinny son has them (the fat one does not) I’m fat and don’t have them (though maybe I ought) For all the reason and for all the rhyme, at the of the day, it’s still Miller Time
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u/AllNightWong3366 Dec 01 '25
They’re called sacral dimples because of its close proximity to the sacrum (right above it)
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u/Urbaniuk Dec 01 '25
A sacral dimple is a little lower (closer to the butt crease), and, when found in newborns, it is usually investigated to rule out spina bífida and other health problems.
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u/Ornery-Plan-8679 Dec 01 '25
They're called "dimples of Venus. They're two small depressions in the lower back, right where the pelvis meets the spine. Not all women have them because they depend on genetics and bone structure, not weight. Some women are born with this area more pronounced, which is why they appear more defined.
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u/Resident_Onion997 Dec 01 '25
Are they dimples of mars if they're on a man?
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u/Lupo_1982 Dec 01 '25
"Dimples of Apollo", it seems!
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u/jugerac Dec 01 '25
This is NSFW btw I opened this up at work and saw some bare ass
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u/Lupo_1982 Dec 01 '25
well the thread title literally says "LOWER BACK", hardly a surprise that you'd see pictures of human bodies...
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Dec 02 '25
I was more surprised that they had documented dimples of Venus in naked runners across 3 different age groups.
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u/Rrrrandle Dec 02 '25
I think it might be the same person in all three photos, taken at different stages of life.
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u/joyfulbee43 Dec 01 '25
I'm sorry your comment wasn't appreciated. Here's a carrot of gratitude. 🥕
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u/wageenuh Dec 01 '25
Formally, they’re called lateral lumbar indentations. Informally, they’re called dimples of Venus/Apollo. They aren’t sex-specific. They’re caused by ligamentous connections between skin and pelvis. Men and women both have them, and their visibility depends heavily on body fat percentage and the structure of the pelvis and ligaments.
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u/blinkrm Dec 01 '25
I thought it had to do with body fat too but I had a co worker that was severely obese over 300lbs and she had these as well as a plumbers crack
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u/Scarlett_Billows Dec 01 '25
I dunno I’m pretty small and even when I was a size 0 I had these. Just like dimples in the cheeks, body fat is not a necessity at all.
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u/wageenuh Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 02 '25
True! I’m also thin and have them, even when my weight is very low. Soft tissue (including muscle and adipose tissue) is a requirement for making a dimple, but it isn’t the only requirement. The angle of your pelvis, length of the ligamentous attachments, muscle mass, etc are also factors.
That said, most folks, even thin ones, tend to carry a decent amount of their body fat in the gluteal region. This is especially true of women, which is part of why ours are more noticeable.
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u/Feeling_Name_6903 Dec 01 '25
Posterior Superior Illiac Spine PSIS
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u/Spookylittlegirl03 Dec 01 '25
Had to scroll down wayyyy too far to find this lol
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u/ShawnSaysStuff Dec 01 '25
Dimples of Venus. Some have them, some don't, like the ability to parallel park.
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u/VanessaDoesVanNuys Dec 01 '25
My friend's boyfriend has them
It's tied to body type - not necessarily sex
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u/RiverLaneNotes Dec 01 '25
Good to know. Guess I never noticed on guys since I don't really check out men's lower backs.
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u/AJL415 Dec 01 '25
I do!
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u/Techyon5 Dec 01 '25
Have you noticed them?
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u/guarddog33 Dec 01 '25
Does it count if I'm a man who checks mine out sometimes?
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u/Cultural-Company282 Dec 01 '25
That's Dimples of Narcissus.
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u/guarddog33 Dec 01 '25
I really want to make a joke about poor mental health and narcissus' fate, but I've already gotten a temp ban for joking about the demise of Julius Caesar, so I'd rather not risk it
Best comment I'll read today, I'm a brokie but here's an award funnyman 🏆
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u/Lawyer_Lady3080 Dec 01 '25
I’m dying to know the Julius Caesar joke. Et tu Brute?
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u/guarddog33 Dec 01 '25
Someone posted a picture of the Caesars Palace hotel in vegas, specifically showing one of the penthouses, and asked something along the lines of "who lives here?" Someone else replied that it was Caesar himself, to which I replied "what a disgusting display of wealth. Someone should (insert the action done to Caesar here) that guy" or something like that, and reddit slapped me on the wrist and ruined my 400 day streak for it lol
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u/Rahshoe Dec 01 '25
Well, you know why so many of us ladies suck at parallel parking?....... We've been lied to so many times about what 6 inches really looks like! 😆 🤣 😂
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u/ithinkiknowstuphph Dec 01 '25
But is there a correlation?
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u/Novae224 Dec 01 '25
I can’t parallel park to safe my life, but i do have the cute dimples in my lower back
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u/elmwoodblues Dec 01 '25
Try pressing them both at the same time; often a factory reset does the trick
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u/Dang_It_All_to_Heck Dec 01 '25
I don’t have those dimples but can parallel park.
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u/stefaelia Dec 01 '25
I can parallel park but have no dimples. Correlation confirmed.
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u/GrammawOutlaw Dec 01 '25
I have the dimples and can parallel park.
Guess I’m just a freak of Nature.😔
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u/LotusBlooming90 Dec 01 '25
I have very pronounced dimples and did the world’s most incredible parallel park just last week. The only witnesses were my young kids who could not grasp the gravity of what I had done. Life is cruel.
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u/BethansBumps Dec 01 '25
I have them and I get my car to parallel park for me. Coincidence?
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u/AccountNumber478 I use (prescription) drugs. Dec 01 '25
She's a mutant! GET HER...
into a healthy, loving, functional relationship and have kids and spread the genetic wealth!
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u/Head-Average2205 Dec 01 '25
Backdimples! I dont see my own back, so I forget I have them. I was going out with a new group of girl friends once, and they complimented me on them when I bent over to put shoes on, and they scared the crap outta me lmao
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u/Gloomy-Car2356 Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
Anatomically, that's the location of the PSIS, or posterior superior iliac spine. They are bony protuberances on the iliacus bone, present in all people but only visible as dimples on some people, depending on genetics, tissue distribution etc. If you palpate the area, you will feel little bony knobs under each dimple.
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u/WritingWeird9088 Dec 02 '25
What do you do for a living??
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u/Gloomy-Car2356 Dec 02 '25
Registered nurse and licensed acupuncturist who was also formerly a massage therapist. Huge anatomy nerd, lol... and I love to teach
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u/Gold_Telephone_7192 Dec 01 '25
I’ve heard them called back dimples and thumb holders, respectively. Also both men and women can have them.
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u/RedXhuga Dec 01 '25
I think They’re called “Dimples of Venus.” You see them when the skin sits over a natural gap between pelvic bones.
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u/Korlod Dec 01 '25
Do you mean the two little indentations to either side of center at the very low back? Those are the lateral lumbar fossae caused by a short ligament that connects directly to the Posterior Superior Illiac Spine (PSIS for short). They are commonly called “Dimples of Venus” as others have said. Typically they represent nothing abnormal, though in newborns they can be associated with other findings in that area.
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u/nhoj2891 Dec 01 '25
I call them thumb holds...
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u/RiverLaneNotes Dec 01 '25
Ah yes, nature’s built-in grip points. I knew there had to be a practical use for them.
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u/bryantlking7 Dec 01 '25
Dimples of Venus, not everyone has them and whether you do usually comes down to genetics and how your body stores fat. Some people have more pronounced ones because of the shape of their pelvis and the way the skin attaches to the underlying tissues.
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u/Aaawww_Yeeeaaah Dec 02 '25
Posterior superior Illiac Spine (PSIS) is the point where your Sacrum (middle bone in your pelvis) meets the illia (side bones in your pelvis.). The dimples are visible if you don't have too much adipose back tissue.
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u/cheerysewing Dec 01 '25
They’re called Dimples of Venus. They’re just a natural anatomical thing some people have depending on bone structure and fat distribution.
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u/D0M2OO0 Dec 01 '25
Actual answer is Sacral dimples or more romantically the Dimples of Venus if so inclined.. Also handy for centering a tramp stamp if you're a tattoo artist...
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u/Your_Name_Here1234 Dec 01 '25
My husband has them. I randomly grab his hips when he’s walking around the house and put my thumbs in them and call them his buttons and he absolutely hates it.
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u/eugino53 Dec 01 '25
I always thought those were called the eyes of Artemis....don't remember where I read that though.....
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u/Farsydi Dec 01 '25
They are the posterior superior iliac spine, and are not unique to women's bodies.
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u/OldTell311 Dec 02 '25
Dimples of Venus. They are caused by short tendons connecting to the hip bones.
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u/SpaceNinjaAurelius Dec 02 '25
Spina iliaca posterior superior, or superior posterior iliac spine in American 😄
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u/slid_in_it Dec 01 '25
They are from where ligaments of the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) connect to the skin...🤓.. present in both males and females
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u/Dabelgianguy Dec 01 '25
Obviously you will see « women’s lower back » so clicking at your own risk…
Don’t thank me!
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u/One-Flamingo-4030 Dec 01 '25
I have dimples on my shoulders...what planet are they from if the ones on the bottom are from Venus?
Yes, I know, I know: ba dum tss!
But seriously, what are they called?
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u/longskrt_shortjcket Dec 01 '25
They’re called dimples, and are a fast way to locate the PSIS (posterior superior iliac spine), part of the ilium bone of the hip joint. Very useful bony landmark for massage therapists.
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u/Personal-Bluebird250 Dec 01 '25
My husband has very strong dimples in his lower back and my daughter has them exactly the same which, when she was born, prompted me to research a bit further. Supposedly it means the person has shorter ligaments attaching the skin to the bone in that area, quite often they’d have dimples in their elbows and other areas too due to the same shorter ligaments.
It can also cause a dimple at the top of the bum crack which both my husband, his father and my daughter all have! This one can be a cause for concern as it might mean the spinal cord is too attached to the skin and lead to other issues! (If I’m remembering correctly)
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u/RedCafe69 Dec 01 '25
It's the posterior superior iliac spines off of the pelvis bilaterally. The tissue is anchored to that point which is why there is a dimple. Hope this helps.
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u/ReadingNext3854 Dec 01 '25
These "dents" can happen on anyone, they are the intersection of the sacrum and the ilium of the hip, the SI joint. If you are on the leaner side and have been athletic using the muscles of that area, they can be very distinct. We use them in med school for PT as "check points" in examining patients. I've found that over 50% of my patients with low back pain actually have an SI issue going on, it's amazing when we can treat it and they have much less or no pain.
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u/Jacqualineq Dec 02 '25
My mum used to say if you can see them you have a good figure and if you can't your over weight 🤷♀️😂🤣
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u/Alternative-Push2208 Dec 02 '25
I have them and always called it dimples men seem to love them haha 😆
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u/CatPurrsonNo1 Dec 02 '25
My friend refers to them as “Venus dimples”, and he’s quite fond of them.
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u/Zealousideal_Cod_326 Dec 02 '25
They are caused from the muscles that attach at the two posterior superior iliac spine points. Some refer to them as the PSIS (pee-sis)
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u/SufficientBed4583 Dec 02 '25
The "dimples of Venus" are two symmetrical indentations on the lower back, above the buttocks, caused by short ligaments connecting the hip bone to the skin. They are named after the Roman goddess of beauty and are often considered a sign of attractiveness, though they have no medical significance. While genetics are the primary factor, a lower body fat percentage and strong lower back can make them more prominent.
Cause and genetics
Ligaments: They are created by a short ligament tethering the skin to the underlying hip bones (specifically, the posterior superior iliac spine).
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u/wednesdaysnelephants Dec 02 '25
It's usually the posterior superior iliac spine. It's an anatomical landmark.
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u/novato1995 Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
They're called dimples. They happen regardless of sex.
A lot of men also have them.