Pelvis and hip joint
Overview of the pelvis
General
- The pelvis (pelvic girdle) is the ring-like structure of the axial skeleton that connects the vertebral column with the lower extremities (e.g., femur).
- The bony pelvis surrounds the pelvic cavity.
- The pelvic cavity allows passage of gastrointestinal and urogenital structures into the pelvis.
- The pelvis is largely immobile (unlike the pectoral girdle), which provides stability and proper transfer of weight from the vertebral column to the lower extremities, especially in the upright position.
- The pelvis is composed of the following bones:
- In addition, the bony pelvis is divided by the pelvic brim into:
Development of the pelvis
- The pelvis starts to develop during the 3rd week of gestation.
- Derived from paraxial mesoderm
- Originates from two separate cartilaginous hemipelves
- Events (by weeks) taking place in pelvic development
- 6th week of development: The sacroiliac joint stats to develop.
- 8th week of development: A fully developed pelvis is present in the embryo.
- 9th week of development: The ilium starts to ossify via endochondral ossification.
- 12th week of development: The anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the pubis start to ossify.
- 15th week of development: The ischium starts to ossify.
References:[1]
Bony pelvis
Hip bones
Bones | Landmarks | Anatomic features |
---|---|---|
Ilium |
| |
Ischium |
|
|
Pubis |
|
|
The anterior superior iliac spine helps to determine the course of the inguinal ligament. In addition, it aids in the identification of the McBurney and Lanz points which are important anatomical locations where localized tenderness is indicative of appendicitis.
Pelvic inlet
- Location: superior rim of the pelvic cavity (upper pelvic aperture)
- Boundaries
- Anterior: pectineal line, pubic crest, and the superior margin of the pubic symphysis
- Posterior: sacral promontory and anterior border of the sacral ala
- Lateral: arcuate line (iliopectineal line) of the ilium
- Diameters: transverse, oblique, conjugate (anteroposterior), anatomical conjugate, diagonal, straight, median
- Structures passing through the pelvic inlet: ureter, spermatic cord, round ligament of the uterus, suspensory ligament of the ovary, middle sacral vessels, gonadal vessels, iliolumbar vessels, lumbosacral trunk, sympathetic trunk, obturator nerve
Pelvic outlet
- Location: lower pelvic aperture. It is narrower than the pelvic inlet.
- Boundaries:
- Anterior: pubic symphysis, ischiopubic ramus, and the arcuate pubic ligament
- Posterior: sacrum and coccyx
- Lateral: ischial tuberosities and sacrotuberous ligaments
- Inferior: pelvic diaphragm and the urogenital diaphragm
- Diameters: sagittal and intertuberous
Joints of the pelvis
Joint | Characteristics |
---|---|
Lumbosacral joint |
|
Sacroiliac joint |
|
Sacrococcygeal joint | |
Pubic symphysis |
|
Hip joint |
|
Pelvic diameters
- See “Birth canal” below for more information on pelvic diameters.
Types of pelvises
- See “Birth canal” below for more information on the types of pelvises.
Differences between the male and female pelvis
Male | Female | |
---|---|---|
Bones | Bigger, thicker, and heavier | Smaller, thinner, and lighter |
Sacrum | Longer and narrower | Shorter and wider |
Pelvic cavity | Narrower and deeper | Wider and shallower |
Pelvic inlet | Heart-shaped | Oval-shaped |
Pelvic outlet | Smaller pelvic outlet |
|
Obturator foramen | Round | Triangular or oval |
Subpubic angle | Smaller | Larger |
Soft tissues of the pelvis
Urogenital diaphragm (triangular ligament)
- Triangular muscular sheet located on the anterior part of the pelvic outlet, between the superior and inferior fascia (perineal membrane). It is external and inferior to the pelvic diaphragm.
- Separates the upper pelvis from the deep perineal sac.
Structure | Anatomy |
---|---|
Deep transverse perineal muscle |
|
Urethral sphincter |
|
Perineal membrane |
|
Muscle layers of the pelvis
Layer | Muscle |
---|---|
Superficial perineal layer |
|
Deep urogenital diaphragm layer | |
Pelvic diaphragm |
|
Ligaments of the pelvis
Ligament | Anatomy and function |
---|---|
Anterior sacroiliac ligament |
|
Posterior sacroiliac ligament |
|
Sacrospinous ligament |
|
Sacrotuberous ligament |
|
Ligaments of the hip joint |
Foramina of the pelvis
Foramen | Anatomy | Structures |
---|---|---|
Greater sciatic foramen |
|
|
Lesser sciatic foramen |
|
|
Obturator foramen |
| |
Pudendal canal |
| |
Vascular lacuna |
|
|
Muscular lacuna |
|
|
References:[2]
Pelvic cavity and spaces
Pelvic cavity
- The pelvic cavity is the space located within the pelvic girdle.
- The superior opening is formed by the pelvic inlet, whereas the inferior opening is formed by the pelvic outlet.
- The pelvic outlet is bounded by the pelvic floor, which functions to maintain pelvic organs in place. The division between the pelvic inlet and outlet is demarcated by the pelvic brim.
- The pelvic cavity contains parts of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., colon and rectum), urogenital tract (e.g., ureters, bladder, uterus), major blood vessels (e.g., iliac arteries and their branches), and nerves (e.g., pudendal nerve). In addition, the pelvic cavity contains muscles that attach to the spine and the lower limbs (e.g., psoas and iliacus muscles)
Pelvic spaces
Structure | Anatomy |
---|---|
Rectovesical pouch (only in males) |
|
Rectouterine pouch of Douglas (only in females) | |
Pararectal fossa |
|
Vesicouterine pouch (only in females) |
|
Rectovesical space (only in males) |
|
Ischiorectal fossa (ischioanal fossa) |
|
Retropubic space of Retzius |
Pelvic floor
Overview of the pelvic floor
- A complex structure located in the opening of the pelvic outlet.
- Funnel-shaped structure
- Attached to the lesser pelvis
- Separates the perineum from the pelvic cavity
- Above: pelvic cavity
- Below: perineum
- Contains two openings
- Rectal hiatus: allows passage of the anal canal. Located centrally.
- Urogenital hiatus: allows passage of the urethra in both sexes and the vagina in females. Located anteriorly.
- Contains the perineal body (central tendon of the perineum)
- Fibromuscular structure
- Between the anal and urogenital hiatus
- Function
Structures
Anatomy | Function | |
---|---|---|
|
| |
|
| |
Fascial layers of the levator ani and coccygeus muscles also form part of the pelvic floor. |
References:[3]
Birth canal
General
- The female pelvis is larger and wider than the male pelvis.
- The female pelvis is divided into:
- True pelvis: below the linea terminalis (pelvic edge); comprises the bony canal: the ileum (superior-laterally), ischium (inferior-laterally), pubis (anteriorly), sacrum, and coccyx (posteriorly)
- False pelvis: above the linea terminalis; consists of the abdominal wall (anteriorly), lumbar vertebrae (posteriorly), iliac fossae (laterally)
- The birth canal is the passage, consisting of the mother's bony pelvis and soft tissues (i.e., uterus, cervix, vagina, vulva, and pelvic floor), through which a fetus passes during vaginal delivery. It is described in terms of:
- Pelvic form
- 3 pelvic regions
- 4 pelvic planes
- Soft tissue structures
Pelvic form, pelvic regions, and pelvic planes
Birth canal | ||
---|---|---|
Pelvic form |
| |
Pelvic regions | Pelvic inlet |
|
Pelvic cavity (mid-pelvis) | ||
Pelvic outlet |
| |
Pelvic planes | Plane of the pelvic inlet |
|
Plane of greatest pelvic dimension (mid-cavity) | ||
Plane of least pelvic dimension (obstetric outlet) | ||
Plane of the anatomical outlet |
| |
Soft tissue structures |
|
Vessels, nerves, and lymphatics of the pelvis
Arteries
Branches / Origin | Area of supply | |
---|---|---|
Internal iliac artery |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
| |
| ||
|
| |
Medial sacral artery |
| |
Superior rectal artery |
|
|
Ovarian artery |
|
|
Veins
The veins follow the course of the artery and are named accordingly, and drain the same structures supplied by the arteries mentioned above (e.g., internal iliac artery and internal iliac vein).
Nerves
For details on the sacral plexus see learning card on Thigh, knee, and popliteal fossa
Structure | Branches and area of supply |
---|---|
Autonomic nerves |
|
Pudendal nerve (S2–S4) |
|
Lymphatics
Course along the internal iliac vessels and drain into the following lymph nodes:
Lymph nodes | Area of drainage |
---|---|
Inferior mesenteric and aortic lymph nodes |
|
| |
Internal and external iliac lymph nodes |
References:[4]
Hip joint
Overview
- Definition: The hip joint (acetabulofemoral joint) is a joint between the head of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvis.
- Function: connects the axial skeleton to the lower extremities, and functions to support static (e.g., standing) and dynamic (e.g., walking, running) weight
- Type of joint: ball-and-socket synovial joint
- Movements: flexion and extension, lateral and medial rotation, abduction and adduction → the combination of these movements results in circumduction
- Articular capsule: fibrous capsule that attaches to the margin of the acetabulum, the transverse acetabular ligament, and the neck of the femur.
For muscles of the hip joint and their blood supply and innervation, see the learning card on thigh, knee, and popliteal fossa.
Acetabulum
- Cup-like structure on the lateral side of the bony pelvis that articulates with the round femoral head
- Covered by the acetabular labrum
- Ring of cartilage that provides an articular surface for the femoral head
- Stabilized by capsular ligaments
- Surrounded by the fibrous capsule
- Attaches to the margin of the acetabulum and to the transverse acetabular ligament
- Attaches to the neck of the femur
- Anterior: intertrochanteric line (anterior) and the greater trochanter
- Posterior: intertrochanteric crest
- Encloses the femoral head and the femoral neck
-
Receives blood supply from:
- Medial femoral circumflex artery
- Lateral femoral circumflex artery
- Obturator arteries
- Superior and inferior gluteal arteries
- Innervated by:
- Femoral nerve
- Sciatic nerve
- Obturator nerve
- Superior gluteal nerve
Ligaments of the hip joint
Anatomy | Function | |
---|---|---|
Iliofemoral ligament |
|
|
Ischiofemoral ligament |
|
|
Pubofemoral ligament |
|
|
Transverse acetabular ligament |
|
|
Round ligament of the head of femur |
|
The gluteal region
- The gluteal region consists of a group of muscles that form the buttocks
- Gluteal muscles arise from the pelvic girdle, are innervated by nerves that leave the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, and receive vascular supply from the superior and inferior gluteal arteries.
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Innervation | Function Action occurs at the hip joint | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Superficial gluteal muscles | Gluteus maximus |
|
|
|
|
Gluteus medius |
|
|
|
| |
Gluteus minimus |
| ||||
Tensor fascia latae |
|
|
|
| |
Deep gluteal muscles | Piriformis |
|
|
|
|
Obturator internus |
|
| |||
Superior gemellus |
|
|
| ||
Inferior gemellus |
|
| |||
Quadratus femoris |
|
|
|
All superficial gluteal muscles abduct and medially rotate the thigh. All deep gluteal muscles and gluteus maximus laterally rotate the thigh.
Superior gluteal nerve palsy causes paralysis of the gluteus medius and minimus that results in a positive Trendelenburg sign.
Clinical significance
- Sacroiliitis (associated with e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Uterine prolapse
- Obturator hernia
- Femoral hernia
- Hip dislocation
- Hip replacement
- Coxarthrosis
- Trendelenburg sign