Generality
The pubis is one of the three bony components of the iliac bone, together with ilio and ischio.
Precisely, it represents the lower and anterior part of the iliac bone, which is an even bone.
Located inferiorly to the ilium and anteriorly to the ischium, the pubis has three anatomically relevant sections: the body of the pubis, the superior branch of the pubis and the inferior branch of the pubis.
Among the anatomical structures that distinguish the aforementioned sections of the pubis, the following are worth mentioning: the acetabulum (NB: the pubis forms a part of it), the pubic crest, the pubic tubercle and the obturator hole.
The pubis contributes to the formation of two joints: the hip joint (through the acetabulum) and the pubic symphysis (with the pubis of the contralateral iliac bone).
Among the pubic pathologies, include: bone fractures, hip pathologies and diastasis of the pubic symphysis.
What is pubis?
The pubis, also known as pubic bone, is one of the three bony portions that make up the iliac bone .
The other two portions of the iliac bone are ilium and ischium .
WHAT IS ILIACO BONE?
The iliac bone, also known as hip bone, is the even and symmetrical bone, which, together with the sacrum and coccyx, constitutes that anatomical structure identified with the name of pelvic girdle .
LOCATION OF THE PUBE COMPARED TO ILIO AND ISCHIO
The pubis represents the lower and anterior part of the iliac bone.
It resides below the ilil - which is the upper portion of the iliac bone - and in front of the ischium - which is the lower and posterior portion of the iliac bone.
Briefly, the ilium is important for its relationship with the sacrum: with the latter it forms the sacral iliac joint . The ischium, on the other hand, is important because it is the strongest and most resistant portion of the iliac bone and the one on which the weight of the body rests, in the sitting position.
OSSO PUBICO IS PART OF THE BONE OF THE BASIN
The iliac bone - with its three sections ilium, ischium and pubis - and the binomial sacro-coccyx represent the so-called pelvic bones .
The anatomists call the lower part of the trunk of the human body the pelvis or pelvis .
Located between the abdomen and thighs, the pelvis includes, in addition to the pelvic bones: the so-called pelvic cavity, the so-called pelvic floor and the so-called perineum.
Anatomy
The anatomists recognize in the pubis three regions of a certain relevance: the body of the pubis, the superior branch of the pubis and the inferior branch of the pubis .
Figure: 1) sacrum; 2) ilio; 3) ischio; 4) pubis; 4a) pubic body 4b) upper branch of the pubis 4c) lower branch of the pubis 5) pubic symphysis 6) acetabulum 7) obturator hole 8) coccyx.
PUBLIC BODY
The body of the pubis is the wide, resistant and flat region, which resides between the superior branch of the pubis and the inferior branch of the pubis and which, articulating with the body of the pubis of the contralateral iliac bone, forms the so-called pubic symphysis . The pubic symphysis is one of the three main joints of the iliac bone; the other two are the hip joint and the sacral iliac joint .
Two areas of the pubic body deserve a brief description: the so-called pubic crest and the inner surface.
- Pubic crest: it is a rough area, which, in lateral position, has a prominence known as pubic tubercle . The pubic tubercle is an anatomical element useful to doctors, when they want to identify the so-called superficial inguinal ring and the so-called femoral canal.
- Inner surface (or back): contributes to the formation of part of the wall of the small pelvis . Furthermore, it gives rise to some fibers of the internal obturator muscle.
PUBLIC BRANCH UPPER
The upper branch of the pubis is the upper portion of the pubic bone; oriented towards the ilium and connected to the latter, it contributes to the formation of the so-called obturation hole and to the formation of the acetabulum . Exactly, the contribution of the superior branch of the pubis, to the constitution of the acetabulum, is equal to one fifth.
Of the superior branch of the pubis the external surface (or front) and the inner surface (or posterior) deserve a particular quotation.
The external surface is important, because it gives rise to some muscle fibers such as: the long adductor muscle, the external obturator muscle, the short adductor muscle and the gracilis muscle.
The inner surface, on the other hand, is important, because it forms part of the wall of the small pelvis and acts as the point of origin of some fibers of the internal obturator muscle.
LOWER BRANCH OF THE PUBE
The inferior branch of the pubis is the lower portion of the pubic bone. Oriented towards the ischium, it forms, with the inferior branch of the latter, the so - called ischio-pubic branch . The ischio-pubic branch provides a decisive contribution to the constitution of the obturator hole .
The outer surface (or anterior) and the inner surface (or back) deserve special attention in the upper branch of the pubis.
The external surface is important, as it gives rise to some fibers of the gracilis muscle, of the external obturator muscle, of the short adductor muscle and of the large adductor muscle.
The inner surface, on the other hand, is relevant, because it is the point of origin of some fibers of the internal obturator muscle and of the urethral constrictor muscle.
What is the obturator hole?
The obturator hole is precisely a hole, deriving from the particular arrangement of the ischium and the pubic bone, through which pass: the obturator nerve, the obturator artery and the obturator vein.
Development
The three sections of the iliac bone - ilium, ischium and pubis - are fused together.
The fusion of the aforementioned sections is a process that takes place in the human being around the 14th / 15th year of life.
Functions
The pelvic bones, of which the pubis is in fact one of the various components, have at least three noteworthy tasks:
- Support the upper part of the body;
- Connect the axial skeleton (which includes the skull, the vertebral column, the thoracic cage etc.) to the lower limbs;
- Give insertion to muscles, ligaments and tendons, fundamental for walking and not only.
ISCHIO AND ANCILLARY ARTICULATION
By participating in the formation of a fifth of the acetabulum, the pubic bone enters in the list of components that make up the hip joint.
The hip is important because it allows the human being to stand upright, walk, run, jump etc.
Associated pathologies
Among the pathologies that can affect ilio, bone fractures, the diastasis of the pubic symphysis and hip pathologies, with specific involvement of the acetabulum, certainly deserve a mention.
ANCIENT PATHOLOGIES
The two most important hip pathologies, which can derive from an abnormality of the acetabulum, are: coxarthrosis (or osteoarthritis of the hip ) and congenital dysplasia of the hip .
Note : all three portions of the iliac bone participate in the formation of the acetabulum, so not only the ilium but also the ischium and pubis.
DIASTASIS OF THE PUBLIC SYMPHISIS
The diastasis of the pubic symphysis is the separation of the pubic symphysis, without fractures. It is due to a dislocation of the right and / or left pubis.
The possible causes of this dislocation include: pregnancy, the act of birth, trauma to the pelvis, bladder exstrophy, imperfect osteogenesis, cleidocranial dysostosis, hypothyroidism and prune abdomen syndrome .
BONE FRACTURES
Fractures of the pubis are traumatic injuries, which usually occur after accidental falls, car accidents or impacts during the practice of sports where physical contact is required (eg rugby, American football, etc.).
The pubic sections most prone to fracture are the upper branch and the lower branch.
Pubic fractures can be divided into two categories: stable fractures and unstable fractures. All fractures characterized by a single breaking point are stable; all fractures marked by two or more breaking points are instead unstable.
A severe pubic fracture can result in damage to the bladder or urethra.
