Let's learn about your pelvis. What is it really?

Hello! Have you ever thought about this important part of your body, located in the middle of your body, between your belly and thighs? We call it the pelvis, or in English, the pelvic girdle or `(Pelvis)`. It's like a small basin at the base of our spine, with an opening in the middle. It's made up of the bones in your hip area, buttocks, and lower abdomen. Sometimes doctors refer to this entire pelvic area as ``Pelvis``. When you have pain in this area, it's usually related to the organs inside this cavity. That means things like your urinary system, reproductive system, and rectum. When a doctor does a ``Pelvic exam``, they usually examine these organs. Let's talk about the pelvis simply and properly today, okay?

So, what happens to our body from this pelvis?

Simply put, your pelvis is a structure that does a lot of heavy lifting. Think of it as supporting the entire weight of your upper body, with the help of the pelvic floor muscles. This is important for keeping your body balanced when you stand, walk, and sit.

Not only that, but you also have a place called your pelvic cavity. That is, the empty space inside your pelvis. This is where your vital organs, such as your bladder, uterus (in women), ovaries (in women), prostate gland (in men), and parts of the rectum, are protected. The pelvis acts like a safe house for these organs.

Another special thing is that in women, this opening in the pelvis also acts as the birth canal, which prepares the way for the baby to be born. So, you can see how important this is, right?

What bones make up the pelvis?

Actually, your pelvis is not a single bone. It is made up of several major bones that come together and connect to each other. Let's take a look at what they are. The amazing thing is that when you were a child, these bones were separate, but when you become an adult, they fuse together to form a strong structure.

The pelvis is mainly made up of these bones:

Sacrum

This is the bone at the very bottom of your spine, the last five vertebrae of your spine, which are joined together, and is somewhat triangular and shaped like a shovel blade. It takes until you reach puberty for these five vertebrae to fuse together and form a single bone. This is what forms the back, middle part of the pelvis.

Coccyx

This is what we usually call the 'tailbone', or in English `(Tailbone)`. This is the small bone at the end of the spine, below the previously mentioned sacrum. This is also formed by the joining of several small vertebrae. Sometimes doctors combine the sacrum and coccyx and call it the `(Pelvic spine)`.

Pelvic Girdle: Ilium, Ischium, and Pubis

The basin-shaped bones surrounding your pelvic vertebrae, the sacrum and coccyx, are what we call the pelvic girdle. It is made up of three main bones. These bones were separate during childhood and later fuse together.

• Ilium: This is the largest and highest of the three bones. This wide, slightly curved bone surrounds your hip on both sides. It is this bone that you feel when you put your hand on your hip.
• Ischium: These are what we call the 'sit bones'. These are the hard parts that press against the chair when you sit. These two 'U' shaped bones are located at the bottom and back of your pelvic bone. These are what make up the bony part of your buttocks.
• Pubic bone `(Pubis):` This is the bone at the front and bottom of the pelvic girdle. Your two pubic bones come together in the front and middle. We call that joint the `(Pubis symphysis).` This is a joint with a little bit of cartilage `(Cartilage).`

What are the important joints in the pelvis?

A joint is a place where two or more bones join together. Your pelvis has several important joints like this. These joints allow the pelvis to move and are also strong. These joints are held together by tissues called cartilage and ligaments.

Joints in the pelvic vertebrae:

• Sacrococcygeal joint: This is the joint that connects the sacrum and the coccyx below it.
• Lumbosacral joints: These joints connect your lumbar spine to your sacrum.

Joints in the pelvic girdle:

• Pubic symphysis: This has been mentioned before. This is the joint where the two pubic bones meet at the front of the pelvis.
• Sacroiliac joints: These are the joints that connect the sacrum to the ilium bones. They are located at the back of the pelvis, on either side. Some people experience back pain because of problems with these joints.
• Hip joint: This is a very important joint. Your thigh bone (femur) connects to the ilium (hip bone) in your pelvis. The socket in which this joint sits is called the acetabulum. This is a ball and socket joint, which allows you to move your leg in many directions.

Are there four types of pelvis shapes?

In the past, doctors divided pelvic shapes into four basic types. But now doctors have realized that it is not possible to categorize them into four exact types, and that each person's pelvis can vary slightly, like a spectrum. But that old classification is still used for knowledge. These shapes mainly differ according to the shape of the opening at the top of the pelvis (the pelvic inlet).

• Android pelvis: This is roughly heart-shaped. It has a conical shape, widening at the top and narrowing towards the bottom.
• Anthropoid pelvis: This is narrower and deeper than the others. It has an oval opening. People with this type of pelvis may have longer gluteal muscles than normal.
• Gynecoid pelvis: This is the most rounded of the two. It has a wide pelvis and a wide, rounded opening. Doctors say this shape is the easiest for a woman to have a vaginal delivery .
• Platypelloid pelvis: This is the least common of the four shapes. It is wide and shallow. It is flat in front and behind.

The most important thing to remember is that whatever shape your pelvis is, it's not an obstacle to having a healthy baby. Most of the time, your body will adjust to it.

What are the differences in male and female pelvic anatomy?

Whether you are a woman or a man, your pelvis continues to grow and change as you reach puberty. As you age, you may notice some noticeable changes in your pelvic structure, depending on your reproductive system. These changes have evolved along with changes in our reproductive systems.

If you have a female reproductive system, your pelvic structure is designed primarily to facilitate childbirth. That means:

• It is wider and shallower. And the pelvic inlet is larger.
• The gap between your ischia / sit bones is too wide, causing the pelvic outlet to widen.
• The pubic arch, which is formed where the pubic bones meet, is wider (like the letter 'U').
• The space between the two hip sockets (acetabula) (where the thigh bone meets the hip bone) is too large, and they are turned inward.
• The sacrum is short and wide.
• The coccyx is movable (bends backwards during childbirth).

On the other hand, if you have a male reproductive system, your pelvis doesn't have to be shaped for childbirth. So, it's mainly shaped to make it easier to walk and run on two legs. That means:

• It is taller and narrower, more compact.
• It narrows as you go from top to bottom.
• The pubic arch is narrowly angled (like the letter 'V').
• The two hip sockets (acetabula) are located close to each other and are turned outward.
• The sacrum is long, narrow, and straight.
• The coccyx is bent inward and does not move.

What health conditions affect the pelvis?

Like other bones and joints in our body, the bones and joints of the pelvis can be injured. Examples include fractures, dislocations, and repetitive strain injuries. Arthritis of the pelvic joints can also develop. Pelvic joint pain can also occur temporarily during pregnancy and childbirth.

Some conditions that specifically affect the pelvis include:

• Cephalopelvic disproportion: The baby's head is too large to fit through the mother's pelvis.
• Coccydynia: Pain in the tailbone.
• Pelvic fractures .
• Sacroiliitis: Swelling and pain in the sacroiliac joint.
• Spondyloarthritis: A type of arthritis that affects the joints of the spine and can also affect the pelvis.
• Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD): Pain in the pubic symphysis, commonly seen during pregnancy.

Conditions related to the connective tissues within the pelvis:

• Ischial bursitis: Inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) near the ischial bone.
• Pelvic congestion syndrome: Pain caused by venous congestion in the pelvic area.
• Piriformis syndrome: A pinched nerve caused by tightness in the piriformis muscle in the buttock area.
• Pudendal neuralgia: Pain in the pudendal nerve in the pelvic area.
• Round ligament pain: Pain caused by stretching of the round ligaments that support the uterus during pregnancy.

What tests can be used to check the health of your pelvis?

If a doctor thinks there is a problem with your pelvis, they may do tests like these:

• Pelvic physical exam: A physical examination by a doctor.
• Pelvic ultrasound: Uses sound waves to take images of the organs inside the pelvis.
• Pelvis X-ray: Check the condition of the pelvic bones.

Your pelvis is the core of your musculoskeletal system. It supports the weight of your upper body when you sit, stand, and walk. For some, it also helps with childbirth. During pregnancy, your pelvic joints loosen up a bit in preparation for childbirth, which can sometimes cause discomfort and pain.

You probably didn't think about this until you were pregnant or had another pelvic issue. If you're pregnant, you may be concerned about the shape of your pelvis and how it might affect your delivery. But remember, there are many different types of pelvis – and all of them produce healthy babies.

The most important thing we want to take home from this article (Take-Home Message)

So, as we've talked about today, your pelvis is a very amazing, and very important, part of your body.

This supports our bodies, protects our vital organs, and, for women, paves the way for a new life to come into this world.

If you have any questions about the shape of your pelvis or any discomfort related to it, don't be afraid to talk to a doctor. They can explain it to you exactly and help if needed. Remember, everyone's body is different, that's the beauty of nature!

` Pelvis, Bones, Joints, Women's Health, Men's Health, Body Structure