Knowra Pelvis Pelvis The pelvis is a basin-shaped skeletal structure formed by the hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx. It supports the spine, connects the legs to the trunk, and protects pelvic organs.
Hip bone : The paired bone formed by the fused ilium, ischium, and pubis on each side of the pelvis. These two bones form the sides and front of the pelvic ring.
Pelvic girdle : The ring of bones that connects the lower limbs to the axial skeleton. It describes the pelvis in its role of linking the legs to the trunk.
Pelvimetry : The measurement of pelvic dimensions, historically used to assess the bony birth canal. Pelvic measurements have been used to estimate whether a fetus can pass through the birth canal.
Greater pelvis : The upper, broader region of the pelvis above the pelvic brim, continuous with the abdominal cavity. It contrasts with the narrower lesser pelvis below the brim.
Sacrum : A triangular bone at the base of the spine, formed by fused vertebrae and joined to the hip bones. It completes the pelvic ring at the back and transfers spinal load into the hips.
Hip joint : A ball-and-socket synovial joint formed by the femoral head and acetabulum. The acetabulum allows the pelvis to connect each leg through a mobile, load-bearing joint.
Pelvic inlet : The upper opening of the lesser pelvis, bounded by the sacral promontory and pelvic brim. Its dimensions help define the entrance to the bony birth canal.
Lesser pelvis : The region of the pelvis below the pelvic brim, enclosing the pelvic cavity and birth canal. Its walls and openings contain pelvic organs, unlike the more abdominal greater pelvis.
Coccyx : A small terminal bone of the vertebral column, usually formed by fused vertebrae. It sits below the sacrum and anchors pelvic-floor structures.
Pelvic floor : A muscular and connective-tissue sling that closes the bottom of the pelvis and supports pelvic organs. It spans the pelvic outlet and helps support the organs within the bony basin.
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