What are the four main functions of the pelvis?
Nov 24, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
1. Weight-bearing: The pelvis forms a complete bony ring composed of the sacrum and coccyx posteriorly and the left and right hip bones, which serves to support body weight.
2. Organ protection: The pelvis protects internal organs within the pelvic cavity, such as the uterus and other viscera.
3. Shock absorption: The pelvis helps absorb and distribute compressive forces and impacts, providing a certain degree of shock buffering.
4. Center of gravity stability: The pelvis contributes to the stability of the body's center of gravity.
Generally speaking, the pelvis is a basin-shaped skeletal structure that connects the spine and the lower limbs. It has four main functions: supporting body weight, protecting internal organs, absorbing shock, and maintaining center of gravity stability. The details are as follows:
1. Supporting body weight: The pelvis forms a complete bony ring composed of the sacrum and coccyx at the back and the left and right hip bones on the sides. When a person is standing or sitting, the entire weight of the trunk is transmitted to the pelvis, which thus supports the body weight.
2. Protecting internal organs: The pelvis protects pelvic organs such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, rectum, and prostate, helping to prevent damage to these internal structures.
3. Absorbing shock: Ligaments, muscles, and joints surrounding the hip and sacroiliac joints enable the pelvis to absorb downward pressure from the upper body and reduce upward impact forces from the lower limbs, thereby providing a certain degree of shock absorption.
4. Maintaining center of gravity stability: As a complete bony ring with relatively large width and height, the pelvis can appropriately adjust posture, contributing to the stability of the body's center of gravity.
