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iliac bone
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The ilium (os ilium) consists of two sections. The lower, thickened section - the body of the ilium (corpus ossis ilii) - participates in the formation of the acetabulum. The upper, expanded section - the wing of the ilium (ala ossis ilii). It is a wide curved plate, thinned in the center. On the periphery, the wing is thickened, fan-shaped and ends in the iliac crest (crista iliaca). On the iliac crest, three rough lines are visible for the attachment of the broad abdominal muscles: the outer lip (labium externum), the inner lip (labium internum) and the intermediate line (linea intermedia). The iliac crest has bony protrusions in front and behind - the superior and inferior iliac spines. In front is the superior anterior iliac spine (spina iliaca anterior superior), which is easily identified in a living person. Below it is the inferior anterior iliac spine (spina iliaca anterior inferior). At the posterior end of the crest is the superior posterior iliac spine (spina iliaca posterior superior), and slightly below it is the inferior posterior iliac spine (spina iliaca posterior inferior).
On the outer surface of the iliac wing there are three weakly expressed rough lines, on which the gluteal muscles and the fascia covering them begin. The anterior gluteal line (linea glutea anterior) is the longest. It begins near the superior anterior iliac spine and runs in an arc toward the greater sciatic notch of the ischium. The posterior gluteal line (linea glutea posterior) is located almost vertically and parallel to the posterior part of the previous line. The inferior gluteal line (linea glutea inferior) is shorter than the others, begins between the superior and inferior anterior iliac spines and runs above the acetabulum to the greater sciatic notch.
On the inner surface of the iliac wing there is a shallow depression - the iliac fossa (fossa iliaca). The lower border of the iliac fossa is the arcuate line (linea arcuata), reaching the back of the anterior edge of the auricular surface (facies auricularis). This surface serves for articulation with the same surface of the sacrum. The arcuate line continues forward into the iliopubic eminence. Above the auricular surface is the iliac tuberosity (tuberositas iliaca) for attachment of the interosseous ligaments.
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