Difference Between Pelvis and Pelvic Girdle

The key difference between pelvis and pelvic girdle is that the pelvis is a lower part of the trunk that composes several bones such as a pair of bones, sacrum and coccyx while the pelvic girdle is one of the two parts of the bony pelvis that composes two appendicular hip bones oriented in a ring.

The human skeletal system mainly constitutes of bones, cartilages, tendons and ligaments. Likewise, it serves as a supporting structure to the body by making a framework and also providing support surfaces for muscle attachments. Pelvic bones attach the lower extremity to the axial skeleton. Thus, these bones transmit the upper body weight to the lower limbs and support the visceral organs in the pelvis. The pelvic girdle is one part of the pelvis skeleton or the bony pelvis. The main purpose of this article is to discuss the difference between pelvis and pelvic girdle.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pelvis
3. What is Pelvic Girdle
4. Similarities Between Pelvis and Pelvic Girdle
5. Side by Side Comparison – Pelvis vs Pelvic Girdle in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Pelvis?

The pelvis is a combination of several bones, composed of two coxal bones joined posteriorly by the sacrum and interiorly by pubic symphysis. The centre of the pelvis called the pelvic cavity contains the genital organs and rectum.

Pelvis greatly differs between males and females. The female pelvis is small and more delicate. Its iliac crests are farther apart. Hence, the female pelvis is generally wider.

On the other hand, the male pelvis is massive, and the iliac crests are close together. Hence, the male pelvis is narrower. These differences in females are basically due to their role of pregnancy and childbirth. (Difference Between Male and Female Pelvis)

What is Pelvic Girdle?

The pelvic girdle is composed of two bones called os coxae. Three different bones; ilium, ischium, and pubis fuse together in order to make each os coxa. The acetabulum is the hole that is seen when these three bones fused with each other.

Thus, these three bones separate into visible individual bones in females during the childbirth. But in adults, these bones are fused and form a single bone. Pelvic girdle basically encircles the body and provides attachment sites for the lower extremity. It also protects and supports lower organs such as the urinary bladder and genital organs, as well as developing fetus in pregnant women.

What are the Similarities Between Pelvis and Pelvic Girdle?

• The pelvic girdle is a part of the bony pelvis.
• Both are composed of a collection of bones.
• Also, both are important in weight bearing, walking, sitting and standing.

What is the Difference Between Pelvis and Pelvic Girdle?

The pelvis is a bony structure found in the lower part of the trunk of the human body. On the other hand, pelvic girdle is a part of the bony pelvic. Therefore, this is the key difference between pelvis and pelvic bone. Furthermore, the pelvis is a combination of several bones including two hip bones, sacrum and coccyx. Whereas, the pelvic girdle comprised of two hip bones. Therefore, it is another difference between pelvis and pelvic girdle.

Summary – Pelvis vs Pelvic Girdle

In summarizing the difference between pelvis and pelvic girdle; pelvis is the overall bone that makes our hip. In simple words, it is the lower part of the trunk of the human body to which our legs are attached. Whereas, the pelvic girdle is a part of the pelvis. Two hip bones, sacrum and coccyx collectively make the pelvis of humans while two hip bones make the ring structure of pelvic girdle

Reference:

1. “Female Pelvis Diagram: Anatomy, Function of Bones, Muscles, Ligaments.” Healthline, Healthline Media. Available here  
2. “Pelvis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Nov. 2018. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.”Gray241″By Henry Vandyke Carter – Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body, Bartleby.com: Gray’s Anatomy, Plate 241, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.”Pelvic girdle illustration”By Original: U.S. National Cancer Institute; Vectorization: Fred the Oyster; German translation kopiersperre/Rothwild – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia