By Dr M Vijaya Bhushanam

The right and left pelvic bones

The sacrum

The coccyx
The sacrum articulates superiorly with vertebra L5 at
the lumbosacral joint

The pelvic bones articulate posteriorly with the

sacrum at the sacro-iliac joints

The pelvic bones articulate each other anteriorly at

the pubic symphysis.
The pelvic bone is irregular in shape and has two
major parts separated by an oblique line on the
medial surface of the bone

The pelvic bone above this line is the false pelvis,

which is part of the abdomen

The pelvic bone below the line is the true pelvis,

which contains the pelvic cavity
The lateral surface of the pelvic bone has a large
articular socket, the acetabulum

Together with the head of the femur, it forms the

hip joint

Inferior to the acetabulum is the large obturator

foramen
Most of this region is closed by a flat connective
tissue membrane, the obturator membrane

A small obturator canal remains open superiorly

between the membrane and adjacent bone

It provids a route of communication between the

lower limb and the pelvic cavity
The posterior margin of the bone is marked by two
notches separated by the ischial spine
the greater sciatic notch

the lesser sciatic notch.

The posterior margin terminates inferiorly as the

large ischial tuberosity

The irregular anterior margin of the pelvic bone is

marked by the anterior superior iliac spine, the
anterior inferior iliac spine, and the pubic
tubercle
Each pelvic bone is formed by three elements
the ilium
Pubis
Ischium

At birth, these bones are connected by cartilage in the

area of the acetabulum

At between 16 and 18 years of age, they fuse into a

single bone
Of the three components of the pelvic bone, the
ilium is the most superior in position

The ilium is separated into upper and lower parts by a

ridge on the medial surface

\Posteriorly, the ridge is sharp and lies immediately

superior to the surface of the bone that articulates
with the sacrum

.
 This sacral surface has a large L-shaped facet for
articulating with the sacrum and an expanded, posterior
roughened area for the attachment of the strong ligaments
that support the sacro-iliac joint

 Anteriorly, the ridge separating the upper and lower parts

of the ilium is rounded and termed the arcuate line.

 The arcuate line forms part of the linea terminalis and the
pelvic brim.

 The portion of the ilium lying inferiorly to the arcuate line

is the pelvic part of the ilium and contributes to the wall
of the lesser or true pelvis
The upper part of the ilium expands to form a flat,
fan-shaped 'wing', which provides bony support for
the lower abdomen, or false pelvis

This part of the ilium provides attachment for

muscles functionally associated with the lower limb

The anteromedial surface of the wing is concave and

forms the iliac fossa.

The external (gluteal surface) of the wing is marked

by lines and roughenings and is related to the gluteal
region of the lower limb
The entire superior margin of the ilium is thickened
to form a prominent crest (the iliac crest)

It is the site of attachment for muscles and fascia of

the abdomen, back, and lower limb

It terminates anteriorly as the anterior superior

iliac spine

Posteriorly as the posterior superior iliac spine.

A prominent tubercle projects laterally near the

anterior end of the crest; the posterior end of the crest
thickens to form the iliac tuberosity.
Inferior to the anterior superior iliac spine of the crest,
on the anterior margin of the ilium, is a rounded
protuberance called the anterior inferior iliac spine

 This structure serves as the point of attachment for

the rectus femoris muscle and the iliofemoral ligament
associated with the lower limb

A less prominent posterior inferior iliac spine

occurs along the posterior border of the sacral surface
of the ilium, where the bone angles forward to form
the superior margin of the greater sciatic notch.
The anterior and inferior part of the pelvic bone is the
pubis

It has a body and two arms (rami)

The body is flattened dorsoventrally and articulates

with the body of the pubic bone on the other side at
the pubic symphysis

The body has a rounded pubic crest on its superior

surface that ends laterally as the prominent pubic
tubercle.
The superior pubic ramus projects posterolaterally
from the body and joins with the ilium and ischium at
its base, which is positioned toward the acetabulum

The sharp superior margin of this triangular surface is

termed the pectineal line (pecten pubis), which
forms part of the linea terminalis of the pelvic bone
and the pelvic inlet

Anteriorly, this line is continuous with the pubic

crest, which also is part of the linea terminalis and
pelvic inlet
The superior public ramus is marked by the
obturator groove, which forms the upper margin of
the obturator canal.

The inferior ramus projects laterally and inferiorly to

join with the ramus of the ischium.
 The ischium is the posterior and inferior part of the pelvic
bone

 It has: a large body that projects superiorly to join with the
ilium and the superior ramus of the pubis

 a ramus that projects anteriorly to join with the inferior

ramus of the pubis

 The posterior margin of the bone is marked by a

prominent ischial spine that separates the lesser sciatic
notch, below, from the greater sciatic notch, above
The most prominent feature of the ischium is a large
tuberosity (the ischial tuberosity) on the
posteroinferior aspect of the bone

This tuberosity is an important site for the

attachment of lower limb muscles and for supporting
the body when sitting.
 The sacrum, which has the appearance of an inverted
triangle, is formed by the fusion of the five sacral vertebrae
 The base of the sacrum articulates with vertebra LV, and
its apex articulates with the coccyx
 Each of the lateral surfaces of the bone bears a large L-
shaped facet for articulation with the ilium of the pelvic
bone. Posterior to the facet is a large roughened area for
the attachment of ligaments that support the sacro-iliac
joint. The superior surface of the sacrum is characterized
by the superior aspect of the body of vertebra SI and is
flanked on each side by an expanded wing-like transverse
process termed the ala. The anterior edge of the vertebral
body projects forward as the promontory.
 The anterior surface of the sacrum is concave; the posterior
surface is convex. Because the transverse processes of
adjacent sacral vertebrae fuse laterally to the position of
the intervertebral foramina and laterally to the bifurcation
of spinal nerves into posterior and anterior rami, the
posterior and anterior rami of spinal nerves S1 to S4
emerge from the sacrum through separate foramina. There
are four pairs of anterior sacral foramina on the anterior
surface of the sacrum for anterior rami, and four pairs of
posterior sacral foramina on the posterior surface for the
posterior rami. The sacral canal is a continuation of the
vertebral canal that terminates as the sacral hiatus.
 The small terminal part of the vertebral column is the
coccyx, which consists of four fused coccygeal vertebrae
(Fig. 5.22) and, like the sacrum, has the shape of an
inverted triangle. The base of the coccyx is directed
superiorly. The superior surface bears a facet for
articulation with the sacrum and two horns, or cornua,
one on each side, that project upward to articulate or fuse
with similar downward-projecting cornua from the
sacrum. These processes are modified superior and
inferior articular processes that are present on other
vertebrae. Each lateral surface of the coccyx has a small
rudimentary transverse process, extending from the first
coccygeal vertebra. Vertebral arches are absent from
coccygeal vertebrae; therefore, no bony vertebral canal is
present in the coccyx