Vaagna

Vaagna refers to the pelvis or pelvic region in Finnish anatomy. Anatomically it comprises the pelvic girdle and the pelvic cavity. The pelvic girdle attaches the trunk to the lower limbs and consists of two hip bones that form a ring at the base of the spine; the pelvic cavity contains and protects pelvic organs and provides a pathway for childbirth and defecation in humans.

Bone structure and spaces: Each hip bone (os coxae) develops from three bones—ilium, ischium, and pubis—that fuse in adolescence. The two hip bones join at the pubic symphysis anteriorly and articulate with the sacrum at the sacroiliac joints posteriorly. The pelvic brim divides the space into the greater (false) pelvis above and the lesser (true) pelvis below; the pelvic inlet and outlet define the spaces used for childbirth in females.

Sex differences: The female pelvis is typically wider and shallower, with a larger pelvic inlet and a broader pubic arch, adaptations that facilitate childbirth. The male pelvis tends to be narrower and more robust, with a heart-shaped pelvic inlet and a smaller subpubic angle.

Functions, muscles, and ligaments: The pelvis serves as a central support for the upper body and as an attachment site for muscles of the abdomen, hips, and pelvic floor. The pelvic floor muscles, including the levator ani and coccygeus, form a supportive diaphragm for pelvic organs. Ligaments such as the sacroiliac and sacrotuberous joints stabilize the pelvic ring while allowing limited mobility.

Clinical relevance and development: Pelvic injuries can involve fractures of the pelvic ring from high-energy trauma. In females, the pelvic region accommodates childbirth, which involves dimpling and widening of the inlet and outlet. Developmentally, the hip bones fuse from separate elements during adolescence, completing the pelvis’s bony architecture.