Where the hip bone sits in the skeleton
The hip bone is one of a pair of large bones forming the sides and front of the pelvis, each made of three fused parts (ilium, ischium and pubis). They join the sacrum at the back, and the head of the femur fits into their socket (the acetabulum) to form the hip joint. The three parts are separate in childhood and fuse at the acetabulum around puberty. The iliac crest and anterior superior iliac spine can be felt at the side and front of the waist, the two pubic bones meet in front at the pubic symphysis, and below lies the obturator foramen, the largest foramen in the skeleton.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the hip bone in?
The hip bone is one of the bones of the pelvis and leg. The hip bones and sacrum form the pelvis, and the femur, patella, tibia and fibula form the leg.
Which bones make up the pelvis and leg?
The pelvis is formed by the two hip bones, the sacrum and the coccyx. Each leg has the femur, patella, tibia and fibula.
Is there one hip bone or a pair?
The hip bone is paired: there is one on the left and one on the right, and this page covers both.
Which bones do you sit on?
The ischial tuberosities of the hip bones. The hamstring muscles at the back of the thigh attach to these thick bumps.
Other bones of the pelvis and leg
Joints of the hip bone
Bone counts
By region
Read more
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Once the 3D model loads you can turn it and select each part.