Body of pubis

Corpus ossis pubis

  • Related terms: Body

Definition

The pubis comprises of a body and two rami, namely superior and inferior. The body of pubis is flat from the front to the back and has three surfaces: anterior, posterior, and medial, as well as a superior border.

  • The anterior surface points forward and downward, facing the adductor region of the thigh. It provides attachment for the adductor longus muscle at its upper portion. From medial to lateral, various structures originate from this surface, including the anterior pubic ligament, gracilis, adductor brevis, and obturator externus muscle.

  • The posterior surface faces backward and upward toward the pelvic cavity. It serves as the origin for the levator ani muscle in its middle part and the obturator internus muscle along the margin of the obturator foramen.

  • The medial surface, known as the symphyseal surface, articulates with the corresponding pubis on the opposite side to form the pubic symphysis–a secondary cartilaginous joint that serves as the front connection between the two hip bones.

  • The body has a superior border called the pubic crest, which projects over the anterior surface of the body. The medial and lateral halves of the pubic crest provide attachment for the medial and lateral heads of the rectus abdominis muscle, respectively. The lateral portion also gives rise to the pyramidalis muscle.

  • The pubic crest terminates with a prominent lateral end known as the pubic tubercle. It attaches to the medial end of the inguinal ligament and fibers of the cremasteric muscle. In males, the spermatic cord crosses over the pubic tubercle.

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Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2023 IMAIOS.

  • Standring, S. and Gray, H. (2016). ‘Chapter 80: Pelvic girdle, gluteal region and thigh’ in Gray’s anatomy The anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (41st ed.) New York: Elsevier, pp. 1342-1343.


Comparative anatomy in animals

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