Pelvis and perineum
Read the topic background here, then explore the labeled visual and structured learning explanations on this page.
Read explanation on this page ↓ See diagram ↓Pelvis — on-site reading
This reference extract addresses Pelvis, a related subject. It does not cover every part of Pelvis and perineum.. The article introduction is reproduced here, so you do not need to leave MedAtlas to read it. It may not match the latest official medical guidance.
The pelvis (pl.: pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of an anatomical trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also called bony pelvis or pelvic skeleton).
The pelvic region of the trunk includes the bony pelvis, the pelvic cavity (the space enclosed by the bony pelvis), the pelvic floor, below the pelvic cavity, and the perineum, below the pelvic floor. The pelvic skeleton is formed in the area of the back, by the sacrum and the coccyx and anteriorly and to the left and right sides, by a pair of hip bones.
The two hip bones connect the spine with the lower limbs. They are attached to the sacrum posteriorly, connected to each other anteriorly, and joined with the two femurs at the hip joints. The gap enclosed by the bony pelvis, called the pelvic cavity, is the section of the body underneath the abdomen and mainly consists of the reproductive organs and the rectum, while the pelvic floor at the base of the cavity assists in supporting the organs of the abdomen.
In mammals, the bony pelvis has a gap in the middle, significantly larger in females than in males. Their offspring pass through this gap when they are born.
How this connects to Human Anatomy
To study this topic responsibly, identify its normal structure or function, distinguish the main mechanism from its observable consequences, and ask which data can test a competing explanation. The subject foundations below outline these connections without pretending to be a specialist textbook chapter.
Text credit: Wikipedia contributors, “Pelvis”, original article · authors & revision history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Unmodified opening extract, accessed 24 September 2026. This Wikipedia-derived section is provided under CC BY-SA 4.0; the independent MedAtlas notes and design are separate works.
Pelvis and perineum · visual study map
Scalable vector illustration. Labeled conceptual map, not a precise anatomical, histological or diagnostic image.The wording in this learning map is adapted from the attributed Wikipedia background section below (CC BY-SA 4.0).
What the underlying subject studies
Anatomy describes the three-dimensional organization of the human body. Start by placing the structure in a region, identifying boundaries and neighboring organs, and tracing its vascular supply and innervation. A drawing viewed from the front does not necessarily show the patient’s left and right in the same places as an axial scan.
How mechanisms and evidence connect
Link gross anatomy to histology and embryological origin when they help explain function. A nerve, muscle, vessel or organ cannot be understood from its name alone: its course, attachments and relationships provide the practical meaning. Anatomic variation and imaging orientation must always be considered.
How to develop a sound explanation
For revision, sketch a region from memory, label its principal structures, and compare your drawing with an approved anatomical atlas. A conceptual diagram is useful for relationships but cannot represent precise surgical anatomy or all anatomical variants.
References and verification (optional)
All reading material on this page appears above. The links below are for checking the primary syllabus, research or source attribution, not requirements for opening this lesson.
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