Hip bone (pelvis) (Os coxae)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A large bone fused from three parts — ilium, ischium and pubis. Meeting the sacrum behind and each other in front, the paired hip bones form the pelvic ring that transfers body weight from the spine to the legs and shields the pelvic organs.
Clinical notes
Breaking the pelvic ring requires major force and threatens vessels and organs; fractures around the hip are common in the elderly after falls.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Hip bone (pelvis)?
A large bone fused from three parts — ilium, ischium and pubis. Meeting the sacrum behind and each other in front, the paired hip bones form the pelvic ring that transfers body weight from the spine to the legs and shields the pelvic organs.
Why is the Hip bone (pelvis) clinically important?
Breaking the pelvic ring requires major force and threatens vessels and organs; fractures around the hip are common in the elderly after falls.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details