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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Bones and the Skeleton

Pelvis

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈpelvɪs/nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, pelvis means: The basin-shaped ring of bones at the base of the spine, formed by the two hip bones, the sacrum and the coccyx. It supports the trunk and protects the bladder, rectum and reproductive organs.

In Turkish: pelvis, leğen kemiği

How it is used

The word refers both to the bones and to that region of the body. The adjective is pelvic: pelvic floor, pelvic cavity, pelvic fracture. The female pelvis is wider than the male pelvis, which matters for childbirth.

Example sentences

  1. The bladder sits at the front of the pelvis, just behind the pubic bone.

  2. The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and the bowel.

Common collocations

  • pelvic floor
  • pelvic cavity
  • pelvic girdle
  • pelvic fracture
  • renal pelvis
  • skeletonThe framework of bones and cartilage that supports the body, protects the organs and allows movement. An adult skeleton usually has 206 bones.
  • bladderThe hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis that stores urine coming from the kidneys until it is passed out of the body through the urethra.
  • vertebraOne of the roughly 33 small bones stacked to form the spine (vertebral column). Each has a body, an arch and an opening through which the spinal cord passes.
  • femurThe thigh bone: the long bone between the hip and the knee. It is the longest and strongest bone in the human body.

More terms: Bones and the Skeleton

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.