The bony pelvis is formed from the sacrum, coccyx, and paired hip bones. In childhood, each hip bone consists of three separate bones that fuse during puberty. The hip bones join anteriorly at the pubic symphysis and posteriorly at the sacroiliac joints. The pelvis incorporates the acetabulum for articulation with the femur at the hip joint. Differences in the male and female pelvis arise to adapt to childbearing in females.

1. The bony pelvis is formed by the sacrum and coccyx and a
pair of hip bones ("ossa coxae"), which are part of
the appendicular skeleton.
Its primary function is the transmission of forces from
the axial skeleton to the lower limbs as well as supporting
the pelvic viscera.
Anatomy
In childhood, each hip bone consists of three separate bones
(ilium, ischium and pubis) connected by the triradiate
cartilage. Around puberty, these bones fuse.
The two hip bones are joined anteriorly at the symphysis
pubis and posteriorly to the sacrum at the sacroiliac joints.
The pelvic bones incorporate the acetabulum, which
articulates with the proximal femur at the hip joint.

2. • Sex differences
• Differences between the males and female bony pelvis arise as an adaptation of the female pelvis
to childbearing 3:
• infrapubic angle is greater than 90 degrees in females
• pelvic inlet shape
• males - heart-shaped
• females - round or oval
• wider greater sciatic notch in females
• acetabulum faces more anteriorly in females
• sacrum more triangular and shorter in females
• oval obturator foramen in females
• The shape of the female bony pelvis can be described using the following terms 3:
• gynaecoid pelvis (50%) - normal female type
• anthropoid pelvis (25%) - long AP diameters, short transverse diameters and narrow infrapubic
angle
• android pelvis (20%) - male type with conical shaped pelvic cavity and heart-shaped pelvic inlet
• platypelloid ("flat female") pelvis (5%) - short AP diameters, long transverse diameters and wide
infrapubic angle
• Pelvic apertures

4. Male pelvis Female Pelvis

5. • The pelvic brim defines the pelvic inlet and the following structures contribute to
it 2:
• pubic crest
• pectin pubis
• arcuate line (of the ilium)
• sacral ala
• Pelvic outlet is formed by the following structures 2:
• pubic arch
• inferior margin of the pubic symphysis
• pubic rami
• ischial rami
• sacrotuberous ligament
• sacrum and coccyx
• Related articles
• Abdominal and pelvic anatomy
• skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis

6. – lumbar spine
– bony pelvis
• pubis
– symphysis pubis
• ischium
– greater sciatic notch
• ilium
– sacrum[+]
– coccyx[+]
• muscles of the abdomen and pelvis[+]
• spaces of the abdomen and pelvis[+]
• abdominal and pelvic viscera[+]
• blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis[+]
• lymphatics[+]
• innvervation of the abdomen and pelvis[+]