Pelvic Bones: Anatomy, Types and Functions

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Pelvic Bone is a basin shaped complex bone which connects the trunk and legs and supports the urinary bladder, intestines as well as internal sex organs of the body. The pelvis assists in protecting the reproductive as well as the digestive organs of the human body. It also provides support to the spinal cord. It is made up of three parts: sacrum, tailbone and hip bones. 

Keyterms: Bone, Pelvis, bladder, intestines, sex organs, sacrum, tailbone, hip bones, spinal cord, femur, abdomen 

Also Read: Reproductive Health


What is Pelvic Bone?

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The pelvis is a bone shaped complex bone that connects the trunk with the legs. It is also known as the pelvic girdle or bony pelvis. This provides support and balance to the trunk and also helps in the support of intestine, intestinal organs and internal sex organs. In other words, the pelvis is a part between the thigh bone (femur) and the abdomen. 

 Pelvic Bone

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Parts of Pelvic Bone

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The pelvis is made up of a number of smaller bones. They are: 

Tail bone: This is also known as the coccyx. The tail bone is the small three-sided shape which typically resembles a tail. The coccyx is the last fragment of the vertebral segment and it additionally provides support for weight and helps in the movement.

Sacrum: This is a shield-shaped bone situated at the base of the vertebrae. The sacrum is also known as sacral vertebra. It imparts stability as well as strength to the pelvis and also forms the posterior wall.

Hip bones: The hip bones are composed of three parts such as pubis, ilium, and ischium. All of these bones are separated by a triradiate cartilage before puberty arrives. They start fusing with each other at the age of 15-16. 

Pubis: In the human body, the pubis is located at the front (ventral and anterior). The left and right pubic bones consolidate together, shaping the pubic symphysis. Usually, the pubic bone comprises three parts – inferior ramus of the pubis, the body of the pubis, and superior ramus of the pubis.

Ilium: The ilium is the biggest part of the hip bones. This is likewise the uppermost part of the hip bone. It is fairly easy to recognize, with its distinctively broad and flaring bones.

Ischium: The Ischium, similar to the pubis, is formed of 3 parts: the body, inferior ramus of the Ischium and superior ramus of the ischium.

Parts of Pelvic Bone

Pelvic Bone: Structure

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There are some structural differences between male and female pelvic bone anatomy. The design of the female pelvis is in such a way that it provides adequate space for the baby to develop and go through the birth canal of the female pelvis. Because of this reason, the female pelvis is usually wide and broader than the male pelvis. 

Pelvic Bone: Structure

Most of the women have gynaecoid pelvis whereas male have an android pelvis. Rather than the differences of bone, the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments can stretch the size under the effect of progesterone.


Pelvic Bone: Types 

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The shape of the pelvis mainly varies in the female body. It decides whether a person can give birth vaginally or not. Below are given the four general types of pelvis:

Android: The android pelvis has a heart-shaped brim with a narrow shape in the front. This type of pelvic bones are mainly found in tall women with narrow hips and also in African women. 

Anthropoid: This is an oval-shaped anthropoid pelvis brim with a slightly narrow pelvic cavity. In this pelvis, the outlet is large but most of the diameters are reduced.

Pelvic Bone: Types

Gynecoid: This is one of the most common pelvis shapes found in the female body and it favours vaginal birth. Different shapes like android and platypelloid face more trouble in vaginal birth. Gynecoid is also known as the genuine female pelvis.

Platypelloid: It has a kidney-shaped brim and it very well might be tightened in diameter across from front to back. In this, there's just an issue for the baby while entering the pelvis.

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Functions of Pelvic Bone

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The pelvis plays a number of roles in the human body. Some of the most important functions are given below:

  • It transfers the weight of the body from the upper skeleton to the lower part of the skeleton mainly during the movement.
  • The pelvis protects the pelvic viscera and the abdominopelvic.
  • It also helps in joining the number of ligaments and muscles used during locomotion.

Things to Remember

  • The pelvis is a complex bone structure that connects the trunk with the legs
  • The pelvis protects the pelvic viscera and connects a number of ligaments and muscles used during locomotion.
  • According to the pelvic anatomy, it comprises three bones ilium (which represents the width of the hips), The ischium (behind and under on which weight falls during sitting), and pubis towards the front. 
  • All of these unite to form triangular shaped structures in the acetabulum.
  • The cup-shaped attachment formed by the hip joint assists with connecting femur and the thigh bones.
  • The pelvis is influenced by limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, in which intentional muscles around the pelvic and shoulder regions debilitate progressively over time.
  • Most women have a gynaecoid pelvis whereas males possess an android pelvis.

Previous Year Questions


Sample Questions

Ques. What 5 bones make up the pelvis? (3 marks)

Ans. The pelvic skeleton is typically made up posteriorly in the back area, of the sacrum and the coccyx and horizontally and anteriorly (forward and to the sides), by a couple of hip bones. Every hip bone comprises 3 parts: ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Ques. What is the bone under the pelvis? (2 marks)

Ans. The sacrum is a three-sided bone wedged into the back segment of the pelvis. It is composed of five intertwined vertebral bones. The female sacrum is shorter and more extensive than a male's. The sacrum is associated with the tailbone, or coccyx, which is made of a few intertwined vertebral bones at the base of the spine.

Ques. What are the 4 types of pelvis? (2 marks)

Ans. The types of pelvis can be classified according to their diameter across. In obstetric practice they are frequently divided into 4 main types: gynecoid, android, anthropoid, and platypelloid,based mainly on the shape of the pelvic inlet

Ques. Where is the Pelvic Bone located? (2 marks)

Ans. The Pelvic Bone is located at the lowest part of the torso. It is situated between the legs and the abdomen. This space also supports the intestines and also contains the digestive organs and bladder.

Ques. Is your pelvis a single bone? (2 marks)

Ans. In simple words, pelvis is also known as bony pelvis or pelvic support. In human anatomy, it is a basin-shaped complex bone structure that connects the trunk and the legs, supports and balances the body, and holds and supports the digestive tract, the urinary bladder, and the internal organs.

Ques. What's the difference between hip and pelvis? (3 marks)

Ans. Between the pelvis and femur there is a ball and socket type hip joint in the body, and the pelvis is a huge bone construction situated in the lower part of the body. The hip joint associates the pelvis and femur, and the pelvis interfaces the spinal segment and legs.

Ques. What bone do humans sit on? (2 marks)

Ans. The ischial tuberosity is the lowest part of the human pelvis which is sometimes referred to as seat bones. This helps to absorb the weight while sitting.

Ques. What are the functions of the pelvis? (3 marks)

Ans. The pelvis plays an important role in transferring the weight of our body from the upper skeleton to the lower part of the skeleton mainly during movement/locomotion. It helps in joining the number of ligaments and muscles used during locomotion. It also protects internal and reproductive organs.

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