Pelvis facts for kids

Bone: Pelvis
Male type pelvis
Female type pelvis
Latin	Pelvis

The pelvis is a group of strong bones located at the very bottom of your spine. Many people call it the hip bone because it's right where your legs connect to your body. Think of it as the base of your body's frame, connecting your upper body to your legs. In animals with backbones, like humans, the legs are attached to the pelvis.

The pelvis has several important jobs. It acts like a protective shield for important organs inside your body, such as those used for digestion and for reproduction (making babies). It also helps support the weight of your upper body, making sure you can stand, walk, and run properly.

Bones of the Pelvis

The pelvis is a symmetrical structure, meaning it's the same on both sides. It's made up of a few different bones that fit together like a puzzle:

• The two large bones on either side are called the hip bones. Each hip bone is actually made of three parts that fuse together as you grow:
  • The top, wide part is the ilium.
  • The front, middle part is called the pubis.
  • The lower, back part is called the ischium. This is the bone you sit on!
• The sacrum is a triangular bone at the base of the spine, located between the two hip bones.
• The coccyx is your tailbone, a small bone attached to the bottom of the sacrum.

Male and Female Pelvis Differences

Did you know that male and female human pelves are shaped a bit differently? This is because the female pelvis is designed to allow for childbirth.

• The female pelvis is generally wider and more shallow.
• The male pelvis is narrower and deeper.

These differences help the female body prepare for pregnancy and delivery.

Images for kids

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  The same human pelvis, front imaged by x-ray (top), magnetic resonance imaging (middle), and 3-dimensional computed tomography (bottom)

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  Intrinsic back muscles

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  The pelvic girdle of the dinosaur Falcarius utahensis

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  Diameters of pelvic inlet.

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  Right hip bone. External surface.

See also

In Spanish: Pelvis para niños