Becken

Becken is a German noun with several related meanings in anatomy, geography, and everyday use. It can also be found as a surname.

In anatomy, Becken refers to the pelvis, the bony basin at the base of the spine that connects the trunk to the lower limbs. It consists of the hip bones (os coxae), the sacrum, and the coccyx, and forms the pelvic cavity which contains organs such as parts of the digestive and urinary systems and, in females, the reproductive organs. The pelvis supports body weight, transfers it to the legs, and provides attachment for muscles. The term Becken is also used in compounds such as Beckenboden (pelvic floor).

In geography and earth science, Becken denotes a basin, a bowl-shaped low area that collects surface water or forms part of a drainage system. Geological basins are large-scale depressions created by subsidence and filled with sediments over time. The concept appears in various hydrological and geological contexts, including references to river basins and inland sedimentary basins.

In everyday language, Becken can mean a basin in the sense of a container or receptacle, especially in compounds like Waschbecken (washbasin). The general sense as a hollow or container is also understood in non-specialist contexts, such as basins used for washing or holding liquids.

Becken is also used as a surname of German origin. As a term, its meanings are closely related across disciplines, reflecting the common idea of a hollow or receptacle in both body and landscape.