Medical Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Tables - Bones of the Pelvis and Perineum

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Bone Structure Description Notes
os coxae one of three bones that form the pelvis paired; the os coxae forms the lateral part of the pelvis; it is formed by three fused bones: ischium, ilium & pubis; also known as the innominate bone
acetabulum a cup-shaped depression in the lateral surface of the os coxae bone acetabulum means vinegar cup; it is the socket for the head of the femur; it is formed by the: ilium (1/5), ischium (2/5) and pubis (2/5); the acetabular fossa lies in the floor of the acetabulum
acetabular notch a notch in the inferior margin of the acetabulum it is spanned by the transverse acetabular ligament; the acetabular br. of the obturator a. enters the hip joint by passing through the acetabular notch
acetabular fossa a roughened depression in the center of the acetabulum the ligament of the head of the femur occupies the acetabular fossa
lunate surface of the acetabulum the smooth articular surface of the acetabulum the lunate surface surrounds the acetabular fossa and the acetabular notch
obturator foramen a large foramen formed by the pubic and ischial rami obturator means to occlude or stop up, a reference to the fact that the obturator membrane closes the obturator foramen almost completely; a site of attachment for the obturator externus m. and the obturator internus m.
pubis an angulated bone the forms the anterior part of the pelvis one of three bones that form the os coxae: ilium, ischium, pubis; its body forms 1/5 of the acetabulum; its symphyseal surface unites with the pubis of the opposite side to form the pubic symphysis; the superior and inferior pubic rami participate in the formation of the obturator foramen
body superolateral portion of the pubis the body of the pubis forms about 1/5 of the acetabulum
pubic crest ridge on the superior border of the superior ramus attachment of rectus abdominis & pyramidalis mm.
pubic tubercle process at the lateral end of pubic crest attachment point of the medial end of the inguinal ligament
superior ramus superior "limb" that passes medially from the body of the pubis articulates with the superior ramus of the opposite side at the pubic symphysis
pecten ridge on superior surface of the superior pubic ramus attachment point of the pectineal ligament
inferior ramus inferior "limb" that passes inferolaterally from the pubic symphysis articulates with the ischial ramus to form the ischiopubic ramus; attachment site for the root of the penis (clitoris)
obturator groove groove on the inferior surface of the superior pubic ramus marks the area of passage of the obturator vessels and n. in the obturator canal
ischium   the "V"- shaped bone that forms the posteroinferior part of the pelvis one of the three bones that form the os coxae: ilium, ischium, pubis
  ischial ramus the limb of the ischium that passes anteriorly and superomedially toward the pubis it articulates with the inferior ramus of the pubis
body the part of the ischium that participates in the formation of the acetabulum it articulates with the ilium and the pubis at the acetabulum; the body of the ischium forms 2/5 of the acetabulum
ischial tuberosity the roughened projection that protrudes posteroinferiorly from the body of the ischium it is the site of attachment of the sacrotuberous ligament; it is the site of origin of the inferior gemellus m., quadratus femoris m. and the hamstring mm. (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, long head of biceps femoris, ischiocondylar portion of the adductor magnus)
lesser sciatic notch the notch located between the ischial tuberosity and the ischial spine the lesser sciatic notch is converted to the lesser sciatic foramen by the sacrospinous ligament and the sacrotuberous ligament
greater sciatic notch the notch on the inferior portion of ischium located medial to the ischial spine the greater sciatic notch is converted to the greater sciatic foramen by the sacrospinous ligament and the sacrotuberous ligament
ischial spine the spine that arises just superior to the lesser sciatic notch it is the site of attachment of the sacrospinous ligament and the site of origin of the superior gemellus m.
ilium fan-shaped bone that forms the lateral prominence of the pelvis one of three bones that form the os coxae: ilium, ischium, pubis
body the portion of the ilium that participates in the formation of the acetabulum the body of the ilium forms 2/5 of the acetabulum
iliac crest arching superior edge the ilium that forms the rim of the "fan" attachment for abdominal wall muscles
iliac tubercle roughened area along the outer edge of the iliac crest
anterior superior iliac spine spine at the anterior end of the iliac crest lateral attachment of the inguinal ligament
posterior superior iliac spine spine at the posterior end of the iliac crest position marked by a dimpling of the skin
arcuate line ridge running from anteroinferior to posterosuperior on the inner surface of the ilium inferior boundary of the iliac fossa; marks the plane of transition from abdominal cavity to pelvic cavity
sacrum   a triangular bone that is the posterior skeletal element forming the pelvis it is formed by 5 fused vertebrae; the sacrum and two os coxae bones form the pelvis
base the superior part of the sacrum the base of the sacrum includes the articular surface for the fifth lumbar vertebra (through an intervertebral disk) and the superior portion of the two ala
promontory a projection of the superior part of the sacrum in an anterior direction the body of the fifth lumbar vertebra sits on the sacral promontory and articulates with it through a symphysis
ala the lateral portion of the sacrum paired; it projects laterally from the body of the sacrum; it represents the fused costal and transverse processes of the first sacral vertebra
anterior sacral foramina an opening in the anterior surface of the sacrum there are four pairs; each transmits the ventral primary ramus of the respective sacral spinal nerve; branches of the lateral sacral aa. Enter the sacral canal through these openings
posterior sacral foramina an opening in the posterior surface of the sacrum there are four pairs; each transmits the dorsal primary ramus of the respective sacral spinal nerve
sacral canal the opening in the center of the sacrum it is the continuation of the vertebral canal at sacral vertebral levels
sacral hiatus an opening in the posterior surface of the sacrum in the midline it is a normal feature that results from the failure of fusion of the laminae of the fifth sacral segment (and sometimes the fourth) during development
auricular surface the roughened area located on the lateral surface of the sacrum this surface articulates with the ilium in the sacroiliac articulation
body the central portion of the sacrum the body is equivalent to the bodies of the other vertebra
coccyx   the most inferior portion of the vertebral column the coccyx results from the fusion of the four coccygeal vertebrae; it may be a single bone or the first coccygeal vertebra may be separated from the other three; it articulates with the fifth sacral segment; coccygeal vertebrae are reduced in complexity, having no pedicles, laminae or spines

The material presented in these tables is contained in the book:
MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger
Published by ILOC, Inc., New York
Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited.
The excellent editorial assistance of
Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS
is gratefully acknowledged.