Anatomy Quiz on Pelvic and Femoral Joints

Bones of the Pelvis & Femur

• The pelvis consists of four bones: two innominate (hip) bones, a sacrum, and a coccyx.
• The innominate bones are each composed of three parts: ilium, ischium, and pubis.
• The three bones of the innominate join to form the acetabulum, a cup-shaped socket that articulates with the head of the femur.

Ilium

• The ilium consists of a body and an ala (wing).
• The body forms the superior two-fifths of the acetabulum.
• Four prominent processes include the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), anterior inferior iliac spine, posterior superior iliac spine, and posterior inferior iliac spine.
• The superior margin of the ilium is called the iliac crest.
• The posterior inferior part of the ilium ends at the greater sciatic notch.

Ischium

• The ischium consists of a body.
• The body forms the posterior two-fifths of the acetabulum.
• The ischial ramus joins with the inferior ramus of the pubis.
• The ischial tuberosity is a thickened portion where the trunk rests when seated.
• The ischial spine is located on the upper, posterior part of the body, with a lesser sciatic notch below it.

Pubis

• The pubis consists of a body, superior ramus, and inferior ramus.
• The body forms about one-fifth of the anterior acetabulum.
• The obturator foramen is formed by the junction of the ischial ramus and the pubis inferior ramus.

Bony Landmarks of Pelvis

• Landmarks like the crest of the ilium, anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), symphysis pubis, ischial tuberosity, and greater trochanter are important anatomical features.

True and False Pelvis

• The greater pelvis is continuous with the abdominal cavity, bordered by the iliac crests and the ala of the iliac bones.
• The lesser pelvis is inferior to this and includes the external genitalia and anal canal.

Birth Canal

• The birth canal includes the pelvic inlet, cavity, and outlet.

Male and Female Pelvises

• Male pelvis is deep and funnel-shaped with a narrower pubic arch.
• Female pelvis is shallow, broad, and flaring with a wider pubic arch.
• Obturator foramina are more oval in females and rounder in males.

Joints of the Pelvis

• Sacroiliac joints (SI): connect the ilia and sacrum with an irregular gliding type of movement.
• Hip joints: ball-and-socket type of synovial joints connecting the head of the femur with the acetabulum.
• Pubic symphysis: connects the right and left pubic bones with a slightly movable fibro-cartilaginous joint.

Femur

• The femur is the longest and largest bone in the body.
• Key features include the head (proximal, rounded end), neck (slender region below the head), shaft (containing gluteal tuberosity, attachment for gluteus maximus, and linea aspera—attachment site for thigh adductors).
• The proximal femur includes the greater and lesser trochanters and the fovea where the ligament of the head of the femur attaches.
• The distal femur has epicondyles, condyles, and an intercondylar fossa.

Angles of Proximal Femur

• The neck to shaft angle is about 125 degrees.
• The longitudinal angle is approximately 10 degrees.
• The anterior angle is approximately 15 to 20 degrees.

Muscle Attachments

• Various muscles attach to the pelvis and the femur for hip and leg movements. Locations are detailed in provided diagrams.

Pathology

• Pelvic pathologies include fractures (Pott's fracture, Jones fracture), congenital clubfoot, Paget's disease, osteoarthritis, osteomalacia, and rickets.

Review Questions

• Various questions about pelvic anatomy, landmarks, bones, and joints are possible review points and are covered
• Answers to the provided review questions are also available for practice and further study.