Bekken

Bekken is a term used in Dutch and Norwegian to refer to the pelvis, the basin-shaped lower part of the trunk. In anatomy, the bekken (pelvis) forms the pelvic girdle and connects the axial skeleton to the lower limbs. It consists of two hip bones (each made up of the ilium, ischium, and pubis), the sacrum, and the coccyx, and it encircles the pelvic cavity. The two hip bones meet at the pubic symphysis anteriorly and with the sacrum at the sacroiliac joints posteriorly. The pelvis is conventionally divided into the greater (false) pelvis and the lesser (true) pelvis, with the pelvic brim marking the boundary between them.

The structure of the bekken provides both support and protection. It bears the weight of the upper body when standing and transfers this load to the lower limbs during movement. It supports and protects abdominal and pelvic organs, and serves as an origin or attachment point for muscles of the abdomen, back, and legs. The pelvic floor muscles span the opening of the pelvis and play a key role in continence and core stability. In females, the bekken also forms a birth canal, adapting its shape to accommodate pregnancy and delivery.

Development and variation: the bekken develops from cartilaginous precursors that ossify and fuse during adolescence. The male and female pelves differ in size and shape, with the female pelvis typically wider and shallower to facilitate childbirth, while the male pelvis is usually narrower and deeper.

Clinical relevance: bekken injuries include fractures of the pelvic ring, which may involve the sacroiliac joints or acetabulum. Pelvic conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic floor disorders, and hip joint pathology are common considerations in medical assessment. Diagnostic imaging—X-ray, CT, and MRI—assists in evaluation.