pelvic girdle

American  

noun

1. (in vertebrates) a bony or cartilaginous arch supporting the hind limbs or analogous parts.

2. (in humans) the arch formed by the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

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pelvic girdle British  

noun

1. the skeletal structure to which the lower limbs in man, and the hind limbs or corresponding parts in other vertebrates, are attached

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Etymology

Origin of pelvic girdle

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The team found a partial skeleton encased in rock that included portions of the lower jaw, vertebrae, and pelvic girdle.

From Science Daily • Nov. 12, 2025

In fish, the pelvic fins and bones of the pelvic girdle are relatively small and float freely in the body.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2024

To date, they have found parts of the posterior portion of its carapace, or shell, and most of the pelvic girdle, but no skull, tail or limbs.

From Reuters • Nov. 17, 2022

Because it is responsible for bearing the weight of the body and for locomotion, the pelvic girdle is securely attached to the axial skeleton by strong ligaments.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In the pelvic girdle the ilium corresponds to the scapula, the ischium to the coracoid, the pubis to the clavicle.

From Form and Function A Contribution to the History of Animal Morphology by E. S. (Edward Stuart) Russell