Inferior to the anterior superior iliac spine is a rounded protuberance called the anterior inferior iliac spine. This important bony landmark can be felt at your anterolateral hip. The rounded, anterior termination of the iliac crest is the anterior superior iliac spine. This curved, superior margin of the ilium is the iliac crest. When you place your hands on your waist, you can feel the arching, superior margin of the ilium along your waistline (see ). Thus, the immobility of the pelvis provides a strong foundation for the upper body as it rests on top of the mobile lower limbs. This is important for stability because it enables the weight of the body to be easily transferred laterally from the vertebral column, through the pelvic girdle and hip joints, and into either lower limb whenever the other limb is not bearing weight. Unlike the bones of the pectoral girdle, which are highly mobile to enhance the range of upper limb movements, the bones of the pelvis are strongly united to each other to form a largely immobile, weight-bearing structure. The bony pelvis is the entire structure formed by the two hip bones, the sacrum, and, attached inferiorly to the sacrum, the coccyx ( ). The right and left hip bones also converge anteriorly to attach to each other. Each hip bone, in turn, is firmly joined to the axial skeleton via its attachment to the sacrum of the vertebral column. The pelvic girdle (hip girdle) is formed by a single bone, the hip bone or coxal bone (coxal = “hip”), which serves as the attachment point for each lower limb. Describe the openings of the pelvis and the boundaries of the greater and lesser pelvis.Explain the three regions of the hip bone and identify their bony landmarks.Define the pelvic girdle and describe the bones and ligaments of the pelvis.Organs with Secondary Endocrine Functionsĭevelopment and Aging of the Endocrine Systemīy the end of this section, you will be able to: Muscles of the Pectoral Girdle and Upper LimbsĪppendicular Muscles of the Pelvic Girdle and Lower Limbsīasic Structure and Function of the Nervous SystemĬirculation and the Central Nervous Systemĭivisions of the Autonomic Nervous System Interactions of Skeletal Muscles, Their Fascicle Arrangement, and Their Lever SystemsĪxial Muscles of the Head, Neck, and BackĪxial Muscles of the Abdominal Wall and Thorax Nervous Tissue Mediates Perception and Responseĭiseases, Disorders, and Injuries of the Integumentary SystemĮxercise, Nutrition, Hormones, and Bone TissueĬalcium Homeostasis: Interactions of the Skeletal System and Other Organ SystemsĮmbryonic Development of the Axial Skeletonĭevelopment and Regeneration of Muscle Tissue Organic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning Inorganic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning Structural Organization of the Human BodyĮlements and Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter