Female Pelvic Skeleton

Quick Answer: The Female Pelvic Skeleton is a model of the bony female pelvis, the two hip bones, sacrum and coccyx, used to teach the landmarks and joints of the pelvic girdle. Nursing, physiotherapy and midwifery students use a female pelvic skeleton to locate the bony points that guide injections, posture assessment and examination.

Bony Landmarks Learners Need to Find

Many practical skills depend on finding the pelvis through the skin, and a skeleton model is where that starts. The iliac crest is the curved upper border felt at the waist; it ends in front at the anterior superior iliac spine, the bony point at the front of the hip, and behind at the posterior superior iliac spine, which lies under the dimples of the lower back. Lower down, the ischial tuberosities are the sitting bones, and the pubic tubercles lie either side of the pubic symphysis at the front.

For the ventrogluteal injection site, the nurse lays the heel of the hand on the greater trochanter of the femur, reaches the index finger to the front iliac spine and fans the middle finger back along the crest; the V between those two fingers marks an area clear of the large nerves and vessels. Physiotherapists compare the height of the two anterior spines to judge pelvic tilt and leg-length differences. In pregnancy the hormone relaxin loosens the ligaments of the sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis, which helps the pelvis widen for birth but can cause pelvic girdle pain, and the model shows which joints are involved.

The listing does not state the size, the material or whether the model is jointed, nor whether any lower lumbar vertebrae or thigh bones are included, and its product image is not currently available, so confirm these points. LabEquip also lists a human adult female pelvis structural model, which focuses on the differences between female and male pelves, and the Chimpanzee Pelvis Skeleton shows how the human pelvis compares with an ape’s.

Where the Model Is Used

• Teaching the ventrogluteal injection site in nursing skills labs
• Physiotherapy lessons on pelvic tilt, posture and leg-length assessment
• Explaining pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy and the role of relaxin
• Anatomy practicals on the bones and joints of the pelvic girdle

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Lift the female pelvic skeleton with both hands under the hip bones rather than by the thin iliac wings or the coccyx.
• If the joints are connected by pins, springs or wire, do not force them apart beyond their normal range.
• Dust with a soft brush and keep the model on a padded shelf.

Why Choose LabEquip

Nursing and physiotherapy schools buy a female pelvic skeleton for skills teaching because learners must be able to find these landmarks on a real body. LabEquip lists it in biology lab products; to confirm size and included bones, use the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the anterior superior iliac spine?

It is the bony point at the front end of the iliac crest, easily felt at the front of the hip. It is a key landmark for injections, measuring leg length and assessing pelvic alignment.

How is the ventrogluteal injection site found?

Place the heel of the hand on the greater trochanter, point the index finger at the front iliac spine and spread the middle finger back along the crest of the ilium, using the right hand on the patient’s left hip and the left hand on the right. The injection goes into the centre of the V between the two fingers.

Why is the ventrogluteal site often preferred to the dorsogluteal site?

The ventrogluteal area is well clear of the sciatic nerve and the large gluteal vessels, and its gluteus medius muscle is thick, with a fairly even layer of fat over it. The bony landmarks also make the site easy to find reliably.

Why is the pubic tubercle a useful landmark?

The pubic tubercle is a small bump on the upper border of the pubic bone, a short distance from the midline. The inguinal ligament runs from it to the anterior superior iliac spine, so it helps locate the groin crease and tell an inguinal hernia from a femoral one.

What causes pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?

The hormone relaxin and the growing weight of the baby loosen and load the sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis. Uneven movement at these joints can cause pain at the front or back of the pelvis.

What are the ischial tuberosities?

They are the rounded lower parts of the ischium that carry the body’s weight when sitting, often called the sitting bones. The hamstring muscles attach to them.

Last Updated: September 2026