image by: Spine Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre

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Why do humans walk upright? The secret is in our pelvis

If evolutionary biologist Terence D. Capellini were to rank the body parts that make us quintessentially human, the pelvis would place close to the top.

After all, its design makes it possible for humans to walk upright on two legs (unlike our primate cousins) and it makes it possible for mothers to give birth to babies with large heads (therefore big brains). On an anatomical level, the pelvis is well understood, but that knowledge starts to break down when it comes to how and when this uber-important structure takes its shape during development.

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Previously Featured

Facts & Myths: The Pelvis

There are three joints that make up the pelvis, two sacroiliac joints at the back and the pubic symphysis at the front. Approximately 65% of body weight is transmitted through the sacrum and into the lower back when standing.

Functional anatomy of the small pelvic and hip muscles

The deep gluteal muscles or external hip rotators are known contributors to low back, pelvic and hip pain, but our knowledge about their function and accessibility for exercise is insufficient.

Pelvic anatomy

A collection of notes covering pelvic anatomy topics.

Pelvis Hip Anatomy

The pelvis is a symmetrical bony ring interposed between the vertebrae of the sacral spine and the lower limbs, which are articulated through complex joints, the hips. It supports the spinal column and connects the upper body to the lower extremities. Importantly, the pelvis functions as the reservoir for the abdominal organs including the bladder, intestine, and uterus in women or prostate in men.

The Bony Pelvis & Gender Differences in Pelvic Anatomy

The geometry of bony pelvis differs significantly between males and females – the phenomena caused by adaptation to the obstetric demands. Females have a relatively larger and rounder pelvic cavity, a shorter and more posteriorly projecting sacrum, a wider subpubic angle, and smaller acetabula with a larger distance between them. It is, however, worth mentioning that in real-life, the gender dimorphism of the pelvis is not as evident as generally described.

The Pelvic Girdle and Pelvis

Unlike the bones of the pectoral girdle, which are highly mobile to enhance the range of upper limb movements, the bones of the pelvis are strongly united to each other to form a largely immobile, weight-bearing structure.

The Pelvis

The pelvis is the lower portion of the trunk, located between the abdomen and the lower limbs.

Your Pelvis Could Hold the Key to Healing Chronic Lower Back, Hip and Foot Pain

Some of the most common ‘orthopedic’ conditions that may have underlying pelvic floor dysfunction include lower back, hip, and foot/ankle pain.

Resources

GLOWM

The pelvis is made of a bony girdle that has a central canal. Its structure must be strong enough to transfer the weight of the body from the spine to the femurs, and yet it must have a large enough opening to allow for a term fetus to be delivered through it.

Physiopedia

The pelvis consists of the sacrum, the coccyx, the ischium, the ilium, and the pubis. The structure of the pelvis supports the contents of the abdomen while also helping to transfer the weight from the spine to the lower limbs. During gait, the joints within the pelvis work together to decrease the amount of force transferred from the ground and lower extremities to the spine and upper extremities.