Pelvic Girdle

The pelvic girdle or bony pelvis is the lower section of the trunk, located between the thighs and abdomen. This basin-shaped structure of bones connects the legs and the trunk, and is a part of the appendicular skeleton, which connects the lower limbs to the axial skeleton, and the upper limb to the axial skeleton via the pectoral girdle.

The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones and includes the pectoral girdle and limbs apart from the pelvic girdle.

The pelvic girdle forms the bony framework of the pelvis together with the sacrum of the vertebral column and coccyx. It provides support and stability to the body and transfers the weight of the upper body from the axial skeleton to the hips and lower limbs. It also protects the abdominal and pelvic visceral organs.

What is the Pelvis?

The pelvis is a large, strong bone found in the lower part of the human body. It is composed of several bones that are connected together to form a ring-like structure. The pelvis provides support for the spine and connects the lower limbs to the trunk. It also serves as an attachment point for the muscles of the hips, legs, and abdomen.

The Pelvis is a large bone structure located in the lower part of the body. It is composed of the sacrum and coccyx posteriorly, and a pair of hip bones anteriorly and laterally. Each hip bone is comprised of three sections - the Pubis, Ischium, and Ilium - which fuse together during puberty to form a single bone.

Learn more about the Pelvic Bone and Its Types

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Pelvic Girdle Bones: Anatomy of the Pelvic Girdle

Parts of the Pelvis

The anatomy of the Pelvic girdle consists of two different regions: the pelvic spine and the pelvic girdle. The pelvic spine is the posterior section of the pelvis after the lumbar spine and includes the coccyx and the sacrum. The hip bone or pelvic girdle is made up of three bones: the ilium, ischium and pubic bone, which form the skeletal framework of the pelvic region enclosing the pelvic structures.

The pelvic girdle is composed of two coxal bones (or hip bones) that are firmly connected to the sacrum of the vertebral column. Unlike the pectoral girdle, which offers more range of motion, the hip bones allow relatively limited movement and serve as the solid base for the upper body and support the body weight. The coxal bones, along with the coccyx and sacrum, make up the pelvis.

Pelvic Girdle

Hip Bone: Anatomy and Functions

The hip bone (coxal bone) is an irregularly shaped part of the bony pelvis. Each half of the pelvic girdle is composed of a single hip bone or coxal bone.

The Coxal bone is composed of a combination of three bones: the Ilium, Ischium, and Pubis.

Ilium: The ilium is the largest part of the coxal bone. It has a fan-like structure and is attached to the sacrum of the vertebral column by the sacroiliac joint, forming a strong connection. It is situated at the upper part of the coxal bone.

Ischium: It makes up the posterior part of the pelvic girdle, located below the ilium. It provides support while sitting.

Pubis: It makes up the lower front part of the pelvis.

Pubic Symphysis: It is a joint located between the pubic parts of the two hip bones in the middle portion. It consists of fibrous cartilage.

Acetabulum: It is a cavity formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The femur (or thigh bone) articulates with the acetabulum.

The sacrococcygeal symphysis attaches the coccyx to the lower part of the sacrum.

Obturator Foramen: It is a large opening located between the ischium and pubis bones, typically round or oval in shape. It is filled with connective tissue and serves as the attachment site for muscles.

Functions of the Hip Joint

The hip is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body; it is a ball-and-socket joint. The joint connects the lower extremities with that of the axial skeleton. The main function of the hip joint is to support the weight of the body dynamically as it promotes load and force transmission to the lower parts from the axial skeleton. Thus it allows mobility. Hip joint enables movement in three main axes; these are all perpendicular to each other.

The hip joint facilitates weight-bearing due to the depth and shape of the acetabulum, which is able to fully encompass the head of the femur.

True Pelvis and False Pelvis

The pelvic girdle divides the pelvic region into two portions, the upper is known as the false pelvis or greater pelvis and the lower part is known as the lesser pelvis or true pelvis.

Greater Pelvis: Also known as the False Pelvis, it is the upper part which encloses the small and large intestine.

Lesser Pelvis: It is the lower part of the pelvis and is also known as the “true pelvis”. It contains pelvic organs such as the urinary bladder and internal sex organs.

The Pelvic inlet divides the two regions, the outer surface of the pelvic inlet is referred to as the pelvic brim.

In females, the lower limit of the lesser pelvis is marked by a wider pelvic outlet.

The female pelvis differs from the male pelvis in several ways. It is wider and broader than the male pelvis, with lighter bones and a pubic arch that is greater than 90°, while the male pubic arch is narrower and less than 90°. These differences are due to the female pelvis being adapted for foetal development and childbirth.

Definition of Female Pelvis

The female pelvis is typically wider and broader than the male pelvis due to its specific functions. It must provide enough space for the development of the foetus and provide a passageway during parturition. The pelvis is the lower section of the torso found between the legs and the abdomen, and it supports the intestines. It also comprises the bladder and the reproductive structures, such as the cervix, vagina, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

Difference Between Female Pelvis and Male Pelvis

The pelvic area connects the trunk and upper body to the lower extremities of the body. There are distinct structural, functional, and anatomical differences between the male and female pelvis.

| Male Pelvis |

| Female Pelvis |

| Structure represents a table

Name	Age
John	20

Name	Age
John	20

| Narrower | Wider |

| True Pelvis

This table shows the number of students in each grade level:

Grade Level	Number of Students
1	25
2	30
3	28
4	32

This table shows the number of students in each grade level:

Grade Level	Number of Students
1	25
2	30
3	28
4	32

| Narrow and heart-shaped | Shallow and wide. Pelvic inlet is rounded and oval |

Structure of Coccyx
Bones
Muscles
Ligaments
Nerves

Name	Age
John	20

Name	Age
John	20

| Immovable. Projected inwards | Flexible. Straighter |

| Pelvic Bone

This table shows the number of books read by each student:

Student	Number of Books Read
John	5
Jane	7
Dave	3

This table shows the number of books read by each student:

Student	Number of Books Read
John	5
Jane	7
Dave	3

| Thicker, Taller and Heavier | Denser and Thinner |

| Sacrum

|This|is|a|table|

|:—:|:—:|:—:|:—:| |This|is|a|table|

| Narrower and Longer | Shorter, Wider, and Less Curved |

| Acetabulum |

This table shows the number of books read by each student in the class.

Student	Books Read
John	5
Jane	8
Dave	10

| Larger | Smaller in Comparison |

Basic Anatomy of the Pelvic Girdle and Lower Limb

The framework of lower limb enables us to perform functions related to balance, weight-bearing, and mobility. In comparison to the upper limb, the muscles and bones of the lower limb are much stronger and larger.

The bones of the lower limb are femur, pelvic girdle, tibia, patella, fibula and the bones present in the foot.

The Pelvic Girdle consists of the sacrum and the hip bone, which is composed of the ilium, pubis, and ischium.

The Knee Cap (Patella) - The patella is a sesamoid bone located anterior to the junction of the tibia and femur. It is embedded in the quadriceps tendon, allowing for increased leverage of the quadriceps muscle. A layer of cartilage between the femur and patella provides cushioning.

The Femur - The femur, or thigh bone, is the strongest and longest bone in the human body. It has a rounded head which sits in the acetabulum of the hip joint, located in the medial and proximal facets of the femur.

The Tibia and Fibula - These are the bones of the leg. The tibia, the weight-bearing bone, is located medially to the fibula and is larger; it is a part of the knee joint.

Conclusion

The pelvic girdle is composed of two hip bones which are connected to the axial skeleton via the sacrum. This girdle connects the lower limbs to the trunk. Together, the pelvic girdle, sacrum and coccyx make up the pelvis. The pelvis of males and females is different.

Frequently Asked Questions

The pelvis is the lower part of the torso, located between the abdomen and the thighs. It supports the spine and anchors the legs.

The three components of hip bone are:

Ilium
Ischium
Pubis

The hip bone is a compound structure made up of three small bones: ischium, ilium, and pubis. The ilium is the large superior part of the bone and the pubis forms the anterior portion. The ischium forms the posterior part of the pelvic girdle below the ilium.

What are the Advantages of Females Having Wider Pelvis?

The different parts of the pelvic girdle are the sacrum, coccyx, ilia, pubis, and ischia.

Pelvic girdle pain is a type of pain that can occur in the area of the pelvic girdle, which is a bony ring formed by the right and left hip bones, the coccyx, and the sacrum. It surrounds the pelvic cavity and connects the vertebral column to that of the lower limbs.

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a pain that is felt in the pelvic area in hips, thighs, lower back and pelvic joints. It is a discomfort that is mostly faced by women during pregnancy.

What is true pelvis and false pelvis?

True pelvis is the area that is bounded by the sacrum and coccyx, the pubic symphysis, and the two hip bones. False pelvis is located above the true pelvis and is bounded by the lumbar vertebrae, the ilia, and the abdominal muscles.

The pelvic region can be divided into the following two structures:

False Pelvis (Greater Pelvis) - It provides support to the upper abdominal organs and is located superiorly.

The pelvic inlet is the upper opening of the true pelvis (lesser pelvis) which encloses the pelvic viscera and the pelvic cavity. It is placed inferiorly.

The pelvic bone is located at the junction between the lesser pelvis and the greater pelvis, also referred to as the pelvic brim.

The pubis is the lowermost part of the pelvis, located between the legs and the abdomen.

The ischium bone is one of the three sections of the hipbone which forms part of the pelvis. It is located at the lower and back part of the hipbone, behind the pubic region. The ischium is made up of two parts: the body and the ramus.

The ilium bone is located at the upper section of the hip bone and forms the concave part of the pelvis. It is functional in balance, mobility and tasks such as standing.

The Ilium (or iliac bone) is the uppermost and largest bone of the hip. It plays an important role in weight-bearing and is a key component of the system that allows for locomotion.

| Pectoral Girdle |

| What Are Floating Ribs? |

| What Is Acromion? |

| Where is the Scapula Bone Located? |

| Where is the Glenoid Cavity Located? |

To learn more about Locomotion and Movement, check out the video below:

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