The two symmetrical indents on your lower back are called the dimples of Venus, or by their anatomical name, fossae lumbales laterales. They sit just above the buttocks, one on each side of the spine, and they’re completely normal. These small depressions are created by a short ligament that connects your skin directly to a bony point on your pelvis called the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS).
What Creates the Indentations
Your pelvis has two bony projections near the base of your spine, one on each side. A short, taut ligament runs from each of these bony points straight up to the overlying skin. Because the ligament pulls the skin inward at that specific spot while the surrounding tissue isn’t anchored the same way, you get a visible dip. The result is two symmetrical dimples positioned just above the gluteal cleft.
If you drew an imaginary line between the two dimples, it would cross directly over the spinous process of the second sacral vertebra, right at the junction where your spine meets your pelvis. This is why surgeons actually use these dimples as a surface landmark during spinal procedures to help locate the upper portion of the sacrum.
Are They Genetic?
Yes. The dimples of Venus are hereditary and appear to follow an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, meaning you only need to inherit the trait from one parent for it to show up. Research published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery found that the occurrence of dimples is roughly equal between men and women, though colloquially they’re more often noticed and discussed in women.
Because the trait is genetic and structural, you can’t create these dimples through exercise. They’re either part of your anatomy or they aren’t. That said, their visibility can change depending on body composition.
Why Some People’s Are More Visible
Body fat plays a significant role in whether your back dimples are prominent or barely noticeable. When subcutaneous fat is thicker across the lower back, it fills in the depression and softens the contour. When body fat is lower, the pull of those short ligaments against the skin becomes much more apparent, making the dimples deeper and more defined.
The muscles surrounding the area matter too. The lumbar multifidus, a long muscle running along the spine from neck to base, is critical for spinal stability and sits right in this region. Research from Concordia University found a strong relationship between higher body fat percentage and increased fat infiltration within this muscle itself, which also reduced the muscle’s ability to contract effectively. So the interplay works in both directions: lower body fat and better-developed spinal muscles tend to make the surrounding area more sculpted, which highlights the dimples. Higher body fat softens the entire region and obscures them.
This is why the dimples often become more or less visible over someone’s lifetime as their weight fluctuates, even though the underlying ligament structure never changes.
Venus Dimples vs. Sacral Dimples
These terms sound interchangeable but refer to different things. Venus dimples come in a pair, sit higher on the lower back (at the level of the pelvis), and are a normal anatomical variation with no medical significance whatsoever.
A sacral dimple is a single small pit or indent that sits lower, right at or near the tailbone, closer to the midline. Sacral dimples are also usually harmless, especially in newborns, but doctors pay closer attention to them because in rare cases they can be associated with occult spinal dysraphisms, which are minor abnormalities in spinal development that may not be visible from the outside. A sacral dimple that is large, deep, or accompanied by a tuft of hair or skin discoloration is more likely to prompt further evaluation.
If you have two symmetrical indents flanking your spine above your buttocks, those are Venus dimples, and there’s nothing to worry about.
The Fertility Claim
You’ll find plenty of articles and social media posts claiming that back dimples indicate better circulation to the pelvis, easier orgasms, or higher fertility. There is no peer-reviewed scientific evidence supporting any of these claims. The dimples are formed by a ligament attaching skin to bone. They don’t reflect vascular anatomy, reproductive function, or nerve supply to the pelvic region. The association likely persists because the dimples are widely considered attractive, and cultural beauty standards tend to accumulate unsubstantiated health claims over time.