Anatomical Characteristics Of The Pecten Pubis Or Pectineal Line

Description

Pecten pubis (pectineal line) forms a sharp, raised ridge along the superomedial margin of the superior ramus of the pubis, just lateral to the pubic symphysis and inferior to the pelvic brim. From the fixed internal aspect of the hip bone, the ridge runs posterolaterally toward the iliopubic eminence, with the pubic crest and pubic tubercle positioned anteromedially and the obturator foramen lying inferiorly. Its superior edge contributes to the linea terminalis, separating the true pelvis from the greater pelvis. A hard bony landmark. Clinically, the pectineal line matters because it anchors Cooper’s (pectineal) ligament, a dense periosteal thickening used for mesh fixation in open inguinal hernia repair and in approaches where a secure, nonmobile pubic attachment point is needed. The ridge also defines the posteromedial boundary of the femoral ring, where femoral hernias pass, and it sits immediately deep to the lacunar ligament near the pubic tubercle, a relationship that becomes unforgiving when dividing tissue near the femoral vein and aberrant obturator vessels. Surface contour and bony relief are the story here, and the illustration’s emphasis on the elevated crest helps learners map soft tissue attachments to a palpable, surgically relevant line on the superior pubic ramus. Use this illustration in pelvis and lower-limb gross anatomy teaching to orient the pelvic brim and to distinguish pubic crest, pubic tubercle, and pecten pubis on a single hip bone. It also fits well in surgical education material on femoral canal anatomy, Cooper ligament repair techniques, and hernia risk at the femoral ring. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.