Show In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to cover the pelvic girdle, which consists of the two hip bones. The hip bones are referred to by different names, such as os coxae or coxal bones, innominate bones, or the pelvic bones. The pelvic girdle is part of the appendicular skeleton, and it not only protects the organs in your pelvic region, but it also attaches the lower limbs of the appendicular skeleton to the sacrum of the axial skeleton. Are the Hipbones Classified as Irregular or Flat Bones?Most anatomists today classify the hip bones as irregular bones, though some sources have classified them as flat bones in the past, so be aware of that. Hip Bone Anatomy (Pelvic Girdle)Each hip bone is divided into three main regions: The ilium, ischium, and pubis. These three regions begin as separate bones in youth, but they later fuse together to form one solid hip bone. The image below is colored to help you visualize the different areas, which helps in identifying landmarks. These three hip regions meet in and around the acetabulum, which is the deep socket of the hip bone. The acetabulum is easily recognized in a lab exam, and it receives the head of the femur to form the acetabulofemoral joint, a ball-and-socket synovial joint. The word acetabulum sounds a lot like “acid tablets,” and the word literally means vinegar cup. So I remember that this is the little cup of vinegar that I need to swallow my acid tablets. Now let’s talk about each major region of the hip bone, starting with the ilium. Ilium Anatomy Landmarks and FeaturesThe ilium makes up the superior (or upper) region of the hip bone, and it is named after a Latin word that means “flank” or “entrails,” because that’s what it supports. The ilium can be subdivided into two portions:
Ischium Anatomy Landmarks and FeaturesNow let’s talk about the ischium of the hip bone (coxal bone), which is the lower rear portion (or posterior inferior region) of the hip bone. Like the ilium, the ischium can be divided into two main regions:
Pubis Anatomy Landmarks and FeaturesFinally, we have the last major section of the hip bone, the pubis. The word pubis means “sexually mature,” and by thinking of your pubic region and private parts, you can remember that this is the area of the hip bone that is the anterior (front) portion. You can usually feel your pubic bone if you palpate in that region. Like the ischium and ilium, the pubis also has a body, but it has two rami coming off the body, which allow for the attachment of various muscles and ligaments.
Free Quiz and More Anatomy VideosTake a free hip bones anatomy quiz to test your knowledge. In addition, you might want to watch our anatomy and physiology lectures on YouTube, or check our anatomy and physiology notes. |