Os coxae 

• The os coxae or hip bone consists of three flat bones, 

ilium, ischium and pubis, which fuse together to form
the acetabulum.
• The ilium extends from the acetabulum upwards
forming the lateral wall of the pelvic cavity.
• The pubis and ischium extend medially and backward
respectively and their medial borders fuse with those of
the opposite side to form the pelvic / ischio-pubic
symphysis.
• The pubis and ischium form the anterior and posterior
parts respectively of the floor of the bony pelvis and
enclose between them on each side, a large obturator
foramen.
• Ilium
– The ilium is the largest of the three parts.
– It is irregularly triangular being wide above narrow and
prismatic at the middle and slightly expanded below.
– It presents two surfaces, three borders and three angles.
• The lateral or gluteal surface is the wing and is wide
and concave infront and narrow and convex behind.
It directed dorso-laterally and backward. This
surface is traversed by the gluteal line running
nearly parallel to the lateral border to become
continuous with the ischiatic spine. This surface
serves for the origin of the gluteus medius.
– The medial or pelvic surface presents a rough triangular
medial part-the sacral surface which presents an irregular
facet, the articular surface for the sacrum and a smooth part
-the iliac surface which is covered by iliacus muscle. At the
middle of medial surface there is a raised prominence known
as psoas tubercle for the psoas minor.
– The cotyloid or lateral border leads to the acetabulum, little
above and infront of which are depressions for the origin of
the rectus femoris.
– The medial or ischiatic border is concave and forms
the greater isciatic notch and is continuous with the ischiatic
spine, which gives attachment to the sacro-sciatic ligament
– The dorsal border or the crest of the ilium is concave thick and
rough for the attachment of the muscles.
 – The medial angle or tuber sacrale articulates with
the wings of sacrum.
– The external angle or tuber coxae is large and
prominent as it contain 3 to 4 tuberculus
prominences.
• The distal or acetabular angle is thick and
meets the other two parts at the acetabulum
• Ishium
– The ischium is smaller than ilium.
– It is irregularly quadrilateral and placed behind the ilium and the pubis.
– It has two surfaces and four borders, four angels.
– The dorsal pelvic surface is concave, smooth and forms the posterior
part of the pelvic floor.
– The ventral surface presents about its middle a rough ridge for the
origin of the adductor muscles of the thigh.
– The anterior border is concave and forms the posterior boundary of the
obturator foramen.
– The posterior border slopes forward and downward and meets the
same borders of its fellow to form the ischial arch.
– The medial border with its fellow form the ischiatic symphysis, presents
ventrally a ridge(ventral tubercle) which gives attachment to the
suspensory ligament of the penis in the male and that of the udder in
the female.
– The lateral border is concave and forms the lesser isciatic notch.
– The antero-external angle joins the ilium and the
pubis at the acetabulum.
– The antero internal angle meets the pubis,with
which it forms the medial boundary of the
obturator foramen.
– The postero external angle-tuber ischii is a trifid
ischial tuberosity(pin bone)and serves for the
origin of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and
semimembranosus.
– The postero internal angle joins its fellow at the
symphysis.
• Pubis
– The pubis is the smallest of the three parts.
– It is irregularly triangular and has two surfaces and three borders and
three angles.
– The dorsal or pelvic surface forms the anterior part of the pelvic floor
and the urinary bladder rests on it in life.
– The ventral surface is convex and rough for the muscular attachment.
– The anterior border is thick. Laterally it bears the ilio-pectineal eminence
and curves for the attachment of the prepubic tendon.
– The posterior border forms the anterior margin of the obturator
foramen.
– The medial border meets the same border of its fellow at the pubic
symphysis.
– The acetabular angle joins the ilium and the ischium at
the acetabulum.
– The medial angle meets its fellow at the anterior end of
symphysis
– The posterior angle joins the ischium, with which it forms
the inner boundary of the obturator foramen.
– The medial borders of the pubis and the ischium meet the
corresponding borders of their fellows to form the pelvic
symphysis / Ischio-pubic symphysis and the pelvic floor is
basin like.
• Acetabulum
– Acetabulum is a cotyloid cavity formed on the ventro-
lateral aspect of the os coxae by the meeting of its three
components.
– It consists of an articular and a non-articular part.
– The former is nearly circular and articulates with the head
of the femur. The rim of the cavity presents on its
postero-medial spect the acetabular notch, which
transmits the round ligament of the hip joint.
– The non-articular part, the acetabular fossa is situated in
the depth of the acetabulum.
• Obturator foramen
– The obturator foramen is a large, elliptical opening on the floor of the
pelvis and is circumscribed by the ischium and the pubis.
• It is covered in life by the obturator muscles.
• Pelvic cavity
– The pelvic cavity is the smallest and the most posterior of the three
visceral cavities of the body.
– The bony pelvis composed of the os coxae laterally and ventrally. The 
sacrum and the first three coccygeal vertebrae dorsally. The lateral
vacuities are closed up by the sciatic ligaments in life.
– The pelvic inlet is bounded by the terminal line or brim which is
composed of the base of the sacrum dorsally, ilio-pectineal lines
laterally and the anterior borders of pubis ventrally.
– The pelvic outlet is much smaller and is very incomplete in the
skeleton. The third coccygeal vertebra bound it dorsally and ventrally
by the ischial arch and the sacro-sciatic ligament
and semimembranosus muscle completes it laterally.