Which bones form the pelvic girdle?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Front and back views of the human skeleton are shown side by side, with labeled bones including the skull, spine, ribs, pelvis, arms, legs, hands, and feet. Insets detail the bones of the foot and hand, highlighting major bone groups and anatomical terms. — human skeleton Front and back views of the human skeleton.

The human pelvic girdle is composed of two paired hip bones, which are connected to each other at the front by the pubic symphysis and joined at the back by the sacrum.1

Each individual hip bone is formed by the fusion of three distinct bones that unite in early adulthood at the acetabulum, the cup-shaped socket that articulates with the femur:12

Ilium: The blade-shaped, uppermost portion that accounts for the width of the hips.12
Ischium: The lower, posterior part of the hip bone, which bears the body's weight when sitting.12
Pubis: The lower, anterior part of the hip bone.12

Together, these structures form a basin-shaped complex that supports the trunk, connects the legs to the body axis, and provides attachment points for muscles involved in movement and balance.12