Pelvics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The group of bones forming the lower part of the torso between the abdomen and the thighs, supporting the spinal column and protecting pelvic organs
2. The bony structure located at the base of the spine that connects the trunk to the legs and houses vital reproductive and excretory organs
3. The complex set of bones that anchor the lower body and provide attachment for muscles involved in movement and posture around the hips and lower abdomen

Etymology: "Pelvics" is simply the plural of "pelvic," so its history is that of the adjective. "Pelvic" is formed from "pelv-," the stem of "pelvis," which is the Latin word for a basin, and the English suffix "-ic," meaning "of or relating to." A pelvic structure is therefore one that relates to the basin-shaped bony ring at the base of the trunk. The Latin "pelvis" originally meant a basin or bowl, a vessel for holding water, and anatomists later applied it to the bony girdle because its shape resembles one. The noun "pelvics" in the sense given here, referring to hip bone structures, is a plural use of the adjective, which is why it reads like a noun.

Synonyms: pelvic bones, hip bones