Also called the pelvic girdle, the pelvis is a basin-shaped group of bones that links the torso and the legs and houses the intestines, bladder, and internal reproductive organs(1).
The pelvis supports the muscles that balance and move the trunk, hips, and legs(2).
In newborns, the pelvis, which is narrow, cannot support the child. As an infant begins to walk, their pelvis widens and tilts, and their lower back’s lumbar curve develops(3).
Aside from carrying a person’s upper body weight, the pelvis transfers upper body weight to the lower limbs. The basin-shaped group of bones also serves as an attachment point for the lower limb and muscles of the torso(4).
These bones also protect the pelvic and abdominopelvic viscera(5). The abdominopelvic viscera include the stomach, liver and biliary system (the biological system that secretes and stores bile), intestines, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, ureters, and suprarenal glands (glands near the kidneys)(6).
The human pelvis is made up of the pelvic cavity, the bony pelvis, the pelvic floor, and the perineum(7).
The pelvic cavity refers to the space inside the pelvic bones. It is divided into two regions: the lesser pelvis and the greater pelvis(8).
The greater pelvis is called the false pelvis, as it is part of the abdomen. Meanwhile, the lesser pelvis, which is a part of the pelvis, is referred to as the true pelvis(9).
The pelvic cavity serves as housing space for the human urinary bladder, the colon, internal sex organs, and the rectum. It also houses internal structures and tissues, such as nerves, muscles, arteries, veins, and the pelvic connective tissue(10).
The pelvis consists of paired hipbones: the pubic symphysis and the sacrum. The hipbones are made up of three bones(11):
The three bones meet at a triangular suture in the socket called the acetabulum, which forms at the hip joint with the thighbone or femur(12).
The pelvic floor refers to the inferior muscular layer of the true pelvic cavity. This muscular sheet divides the pelvic cavity from the perineum, the area which lies inferior to the pelvic floor(13).
It serves as a boundary of the abdominal cavity and the pelvis(14).
The pelvic floor supports the weight of some internal organs, such as the urinary bladder, rectum, and anus. In females, the pelvic floor also holds the weight of the uterus and vagina(15).
The pelvic floor helps in the regulation of rectal, urinary, and genital openings. It also supports the contractions of the bladder and anal sphincter(16).
When a person coughs or lifts heavy objects, the pelvic floor helps maintain intra-abdominal pressure(17).
Dysfunction of the pelvic floor may cause the following disorders(18):
The perineum is the area between two openings on the pelvic floor: the urogenital hiatus and the rectal hiatus(19).
The urogenital hiatus refers to the urethra and the vagina in females. Meanwhile, the rectal hiatus refers to the anal canal(20).
The perineum is a diamond-shaped area that spans the anus to the vagina in females and the anus to the scrotum in males(21).
Although medical conditions are uncommon, pelvis-based abnormalities are present in various patient populations(22).
The pelvis supports and protects several internal organs, which are vulnerable to developing abnormalities. Below are possible causes of pelvic pain(23):
Below are possible causes of pelvic pain in women only(24):
A physician may recommend any of the procedures below to treat or diagnose the causes of pelvis pain(25):
This webpage presents the anatomical structures found on female pelvis MRI. T1 Axial view T1 Coronal view T1 Axial view MRI of the female pelvis: T1-weighted, axial view. Image 1. 1, Rectus abdominis m. 2, external iliac vein 3, external iliac artery 4, right ovary 5, uterus 6, left ovary 7, ilium 8, rectum […]
MRI of the Female Pelvis Read More
Retrograde urethrogram (RUG) is a diagnostic procedure that employs contrast dye to X-ray the urethra. X-rays are used to monitor the flow of the dye back down the urethra and into the bladder.
Retrograde Urethrogram Read More
Sonohysterography uses sound waves to create images of a woman’s uterus and diagnose several conditions.
The voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) test produces pictures of the urinary system. An X-ray and an ultrasound are two medical imaging procedures that can produce images for the voiding cystourethrogram. There are numerous variations of VCUG to improve disease visualization while minimizing radiation exposure. While a VCUG procedure is generally safe, some individuals may experience
Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG) Read More
This webpage presents the anatomical structures found on male pelvis MRI. T1 Axial view T1 Coronal view T1 Axial view MRI of the male pelvis: T1-weighted, axial view. Image 1. 1, rectus abdominis m. 2, external iliac v. 3, external iliac a. 4, sartorius m. 5, ilium 6, gluteus maximus m. 7, sacrum 8,
Male Pelvis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Read More
