Hip Bone Showing The Location Of The Obturator Groove, Medial View

Description

Pubic bone landmarks dominate this medial view of the os coxae, with the superior pubic ramus forming the anterosuperior margin of the obturator foramen and carrying the obturator groove along its inferior aspect near the pelvic brim. Medially, the symphyseal surface and pubic crest sit anterior to the obturator foramen, while the pecten pubis (pectineal line) tracks laterally toward the acetabular region and blends with the arcuate line of the ilium. Posteroinferior to the groove, the bony rim of the obturator foramen is continuous with the inferior pubic ramus and ischial ramus. Small structure, big consequences. Clinically, the obturator groove is the key bony feature that becomes the obturator canal when bridged by the obturator membrane, defining the corridor for the obturator nerve, artery, and vein as they pass from the pelvis to the medial thigh. That spatial relationship matters in superior pubic ramus fractures and pelvic ring injuries, where callus, displacement, or hardware placed along the pectineal line during anterior column or quadrilateral surface fixation can irritate the obturator neurovascular bundle and present as medial thigh pain or adductor weakness. The fixed medial perspective clarifies how close the groove sits to the pelvic brim and to the retropubic region, a common zone for gynecologic and urologic dissection. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and pelvic anatomy teaching to anchor the boundaries of the obturator foramen and the transition from obturator groove to obturator canal, and in orthopedic trauma or pelvic surgery publications discussing anterior column approaches and screw trajectories near the superior pubic ramus. It also supports radiology teaching files when correlating CT findings of pubic ramus fractures with expected obturator nerve symptoms. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.