Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide

The Pelvic Girdle The pelvic girdle consists of the paired hip bones, which are called the coxal bones, or innominate bones. Each hip bone, or coxal bone, forms by the fusion of three bones: an ilium, an ischium, and a pubis. The ilia attach the pelvic girdle to the axial skeleton. Anteriorly, the surfaces of the hip bones are connected by fibrous cartilage at a joint called the pubic symphysis. On the lateral surface of each hip bone, the acetabulum, a concave socket, articulates with the head of the femur. The smooth, cup-shaped articular surface of the acetabulum is the lunate surface. The pelvis consists of the two coxal bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx. The pelvis can be divided into the true (lesser) pelvis and the false (greater) pelvis. The true pelvis encloses the pelvic cavity, a subdivision of the abdominopelvic cavity. The false pelvis consists of the bladelike portions of each ilium.

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