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Hip bone

The hip bone (os coxae) is the complex-shaped bony structure formed after the fusion (synostosis) of three bones: ilium, ischium, and the pubis, that usually occurs before the age of 20*. The two hip bones are the major structural component of the pelvis.


  • * Braus H. (1954) Wegleitung für das praktische Studium der Anatomie. In: Elze C. (eds) Bewegungsapparat. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
  • Icon of crossfade image Download JPG image
    Hip bone in situ Main parts of the hip bone
    Right hip bone in situ & ex situ oriented obliquely to face the hip joint socket (acetabulum)
    The list of terms: Ilium
    Os pubis – Pubis
    Os ischii – Ischium
    Acetabulum
    Foramen obturatum – Obturator foramen
    Corpus ossis ilii – Body of the ilium
    Ala ossis ilii – Wing of the ilium
    Corpus ossis pubis – Body of the pubis
    Ramus superior ossis pubis – Superior ramus of the pubis
    Ramus inferior ossis pubis – Inferior ramus of the pubis
    Corpus ossis ischii – Body of ischium
    Ramus ossis ischii – Ramus of ischium

    Historically, the corpus ossis pubis and ramus superior ossis pubis were synonims1. Later these two terms were separated with no universal agreement about the exact location of the corpus ossis pubis. Many respected anatomy atlases2,3 place the body of the pubis within the acetabular region. That localization does not match the official anatomical terminology, according to which the body of the pubis contains the tuberculum pubicum, facies symphysialis, and crista pubica4. This statement is in agreement with the image above and other anatomy textbooks based on International Nomenclature.5,6.


  • 1 Gray H. Anatomy, descriptive and surgical. London: John W. Parker and Son, West Strand; 1858.
  • 2 Sobotta J. Sobotta Atlas of Human Anatomy: Trunk, Viscera, Lower Limb. 14 ed. (Putz R, Pabst R, eds.). München, Jena: Elsevier Urban & Fisher; 2006.
  • 3 Синельников Р. Атлас Анатомии Человека. Том 1. изд: 7-е. Москва, Новая волна; 2007.
  • 4 Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology. Terminologia Anatomica. Thieme; 1998.
  • 5 Feneis H, Dauber W. Pocket atlas of human anatomy: Based on the International Nomenclature. Stuttgart; New York: Thieme; 2000.
  • 6 Standring S, ed. Gray's Anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Elsevier Inc.; 2008.

  • Icon of crossfade image Acetabulum with the anatomical terminology markup
    Acetabulum
    Right hip joint socket, or acetabulum.
    The list of terms: Ilium
    Os pubis – Pubis
    Os ischii – Ischium
    Facies lunata – Lunate surface
    Incisura acetabuli – Acetabular notch
    Fossa acetabuli – Acetabular fossa
    Limbus acetabuli – Margin of the acetabulum
    Sulcus supraacetabularis – Supra-acetabular sulcus
    Foramen obturatum – Obturator foramen

    Icon of crossfade image Markup for the anterior aspect of the right hip bone
    Anterior aspect of the right hip bone
    Anterior aspect of the right hip bone.
    The list of terms: Crista iliaca – Iliac crest
    Labium externum cristae iliacae – External lip of the iliac crest
    Labium internum cristae iliacae – Internal lip of the iliac crest
    Fossa iliaca – Iliac fossa
    Spina iliaca anterior superior – Anterior superior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca anterior inferior – Anterior inferior iliac spine
    Tuberositas iliaca – Iliac tuberosity
    Linea arcuata – Arcuate line
    Eminentia iliopubica – Iliopubic (iliopectineal) eminence
    Pecten ossis pubis – Pecten (pectineal line) of the pubis
    Ramus superior ossis pubis – Superior ramus of the pubis
    Ramus inferior ossis pubis – Inferior ramus of the pubis
    Crista pubica – Pubic crest
    Tuberculum pubicum – Pubic tubercle
    Ramus ossis ischii – Ramus of ischium
    Foramen obturatum – Obturator foramen
    Acetabulum

    Icon of crossfade image Markup for the medial aspect of the right hip bone
    Medial aspect of the right hip bone
    Medial aspect of the right hip bone.
    The list of terms: Fossa iliaca – Iliac fossa
    Crista iliaca – Iliac crest
    Tuberositas iliaca – Iliac tuberosity
    Facieis auricularis – Auricular surface
    Spina iliaca anterior superior – Anterior superior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca anterior inferior – Anterior inferior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca posterior superior – Posterior superior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca posterior inferior – Posterior inferior iliac spine
    Linea arcuata – Arcuate line
    Eminentia iliopubica – Iliopubic eminence
    Pecten ossis pubis – Pecten of the pubis
    Facies symphysialis – Symphyseal surface
    Sulcus obturatorius – Obturator groove
    Tuberculum obturatorium anterius – Anterior obturator tubercle
    Tuberculum obturatorium posterius – Posterior obturator tubercle
    Foramen obturatum – Obturator foramen
    Incisura ischiadica major – Greater sciatic notch
    Incisura ischiadica minor – Lesser sciatic notch
    Spina ischiadica – Ischial spine
    Tuber ischiadicum – Ischial tuberosity

    Icon of crossfade image Lateral for the medial aspect of the right hip bone
    Lateral aspect of the right hip bone
    Lateral aspect of the right hip bone.
    The list of terms: Ala ossis ilii (facies glutealis) – Wing of the ilium (gluteal surface)
    Crista iliaca – Iliac crest
    Labium internum cristae iliacae – Imternal lip of the iliac crest
    Labium externum cristae iliacae – External lip of the iliac crest
    Tuberculum iliacum – Tubercle of iliac crest
    Linea glutealis posterior – Posterior gluteal line
    Linea glutealis anterior – Anterior gluteal line
    Linea glutealis inferior – Inferior gluteal line
    Spina iliaca anterior superior – Anterior superior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca anterior inferior – Anterior inferior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca posterior superior – Posterior superior iliac spine
    Spina iliaca posterior inferior – Posterior inferior iliac spine
    Sulcus supraacetabularis – Supra-acetabular sulcus
    Incisura ischiadica major – Greater sciatic notch
    Incisura ischiadica minor – Lesser sciatic notch
    Spina ischiadica – Ischial spine
    Tuber ischiadicum – Ischial tuberosity
    Ramus ossis ischii – Ramus of ischium
    Pecten ossis pubis – Pecten of the pubis
    Crista pubica – Pubic crest
    Tuberculum pubicum – Pubic tubercle
    Ramus inferior ossis pubis – Inferior ramus of pubis
    Foramen obturatum – Obturator foramen
    Acetabulum
    Incisura aceatbuli – Acetabular notch

    360° rotation of the right and left hip bone.
    First published: 4/Apr/2020
    Last update: 25/Nov/2020