In human anatomy

Human anatomy

Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...

, the pelvis (plural pelves or pelvises, sometimes also called pelvic region of the trunk) is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limb

Lower limb

The lower limb is a limb of the body.According to Terminologia Anatomica, it includes the pelvic girdle, buttocks, hip, and thigh, as well as the components distal to the knee.-References:...

s (legs).
The pelvis includes several structures:

• the bony pelvis, or pelvic skeleton, the part of the skeleton connecting the lumbar region of the spine to the femur
  Femur
  The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...
  
  s, subdivided into:
  • the pelvic girdle (the two hip bone
    Hip bone
    The hip bone, innominate bone or coxal bone is a large, flattened, irregularly shaped bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below...
    
    s, which are part of the appendicular skeleton
    Appendicular skeleton
    The Appendicular skeleton is composed of 126 bones in the human body. The word appendicular is the adjective of the noun appendage, which itself means a part that is joined to something larger...
    
    ) and
  • the pelvic region of the spine (sacrum
    Sacrum
    In vertebrate anatomy the sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx...
    
    , and coccyx
    Coccyx
    The coccyx , commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column. Comprising three to five separate or fused vertebrae below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, the sacrococcygeal symphysis, which permits limited movement between...
    
    , which are part of the axial skeleton
    Axial skeleton
    The axial skeleton consists of the 80 bones along the central axis of the human body. It is composed of six parts; the human skull, the ossicles of the middle ear, the hyoid bone of the throat, the rib cage, sternum and the vertebral column...
    
    )
• the pelvic cavity
  Pelvic cavity
  -External links:* * *...
  
  , typically defined as a small part of the space enclosed by the pelvic skeleton, delimited by the pelvic brim
  Pelvic brim
  The pelvic brim is the edge of the pelvic inlet. It is an approximately apple-shaped line passing through the prominence of the sacrum, the arcuate and pectineal lines, and the upper margin of the pubic symphysis....
  
   above and the pelvic floor
  Pelvic floor
  The pelvic floor or pelvic diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the levator ani, the coccygeus, and associated connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. The pelvic diaphragm is a muscular partition formed by the levatores ani and coccygei, with which may be included the...
  
   below; alternatively, the pelvic cavity is sometimes also defined as the whole space enclosed by the pelvic skeleton, subdivided into:
  • the greater
    Greater pelvis
    The greater pelvis is a portion of the cavity surrounded by the skeleton of the pelvis, situated above and in front of the pelvic brim...
    
    or false pelvis , above the pelvic brim
    Pelvic brim
    The pelvic brim is the edge of the pelvic inlet. It is an approximately apple-shaped line passing through the prominence of the sacrum, the arcuate and pectineal lines, and the upper margin of the pubic symphysis....
    
    
  • the lesser
    Lesser pelvis
    The lesser pelvis is that part of the space enclosed by the skeleton of the pelvis which is situated between the pelvic inlet and the pelvic floor. Some authors call this cavity the pelvic cavity...
    
    or true pelvis , below the pelvic brim,
• the pelvic floor
  Pelvic floor
  The pelvic floor or pelvic diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the levator ani, the coccygeus, and associated connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. The pelvic diaphragm is a muscular partition formed by the levatores ani and coccygei, with which may be included the...
  
  or pelvic diaphragm, below the pelvic cavity,
• the perineum
  Perineum
  In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
  
  , below the pelvic diaphragm.

In the adult human, the pelvic skeleton is formed in the area of the back (posterior dorsal), by the sacrum

Sacrum

In vertebrate anatomy the sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx...

 and the coccyx

Coccyx

The coccyx , commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column. Comprising three to five separate or fused vertebrae below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, the sacrococcygeal symphysis, which permits limited movement between...

 (the caudal portion of the axial skeleton

Axial skeleton

The axial skeleton consists of the 80 bones along the central axis of the human body. It is composed of six parts; the human skull, the ossicles of the middle ear, the hyoid bone of the throat, the rib cage, sternum and the vertebral column...

), and laterally and anteriorly (forward and to the side), by a pair of hip bone

Hip bone

The hip bone, innominate bone or coxal bone is a large, flattened, irregularly shaped bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below...

s, the lower extremity

Human leg

The human leg is the entire lower extremity or limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region; however, the precise definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle.Legs are used for standing,...

, (parts of the appendicular skeleton

Appendicular skeleton

The Appendicular skeleton is composed of 126 bones in the human body. The word appendicular is the adjective of the noun appendage, which itself means a part that is joined to something larger...

).