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Body of pubis

The body of the pubis is the flattened, medial portion of the pubic bone that forms the anteroinferior part of the pelvis. It articulates at the pubic symphysis with the opposite pubic body and contributes to the acetabulum laterally.

The superior border of the pubic body extends into the pubic crest and pubic tubercle, while its inferior border continues into the inferior pubic ramus, which joins the ischium. The obturator foramen is partially formed by the body and ramus of the pubis.

Structurally, the body of the pubis is composed of cortical bone surrounding trabecular bone marrow and is covered by periosteum. It serves as a key point of attachment for muscles, ligaments, and fascial structures of the abdomen, thigh, and pelvic floor.

Clinically, the pubic body is an important site in pelvic fractures, pubic symphysis diastasis, osteitis pubis, and surgical approaches to the pelvis and urogenital organs.

Attachments

  • Muscles:

    • Rectus abdominis (via pubic crest)

    • Pyramidalis

    • Adductor longus (origin at pubic crest and body)

    • Gracilis (origin at inferior body)

  • Ligaments:

    • Superior pubic ligament (over pubic symphysis)

    • Arcuate (inferior pubic) ligament

  • Other structures: Contributes to anterior wall of inguinal canal via conjoint tendon

Synonyms

  • Corpus ossis pubis

  • Central pubic bone

  • Medial pubic portion

Function

  • Provides articulation at the pubic symphysis for pelvic stability

  • Contributes to the acetabulum, forming part of the hip joint socket

  • Serves as a muscle and ligament attachment site for abdominal wall and thigh muscles

  • Transmits weight-bearing forces between left and right hip bones

Nerve Supply (related structures)

  • Muscular attachments innervated by femoral nerve (adductor longus, gracilis) and thoracoabdominal nerves (rectus abdominis)

Arterial Supply

  • Obturator artery (branch of internal iliac)

  • Inferior epigastric artery (branch of external iliac)

  • Superior and inferior pubic branches from internal iliac and femoral arteries

Venous Drainage

  • Obturator vein → internal iliac vein

  • Inferior epigastric vein → external iliac vein

  • Pubic venous plexus anastomoses with vesical and prostatic plexuses

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Bone cortex: hypointense

  • Bone marrow: intermediate signal due to fatty marrow in adults

  • Clear delineation of muscle and ligament origins

T2-weighted images:

  • Bone cortex: hypointense rim

  • Marrow: intermediate to hyperintense depending on water content

  • Useful for detecting bone marrow edema, cysts, and fractures

PD Fat-Saturated (Proton Density FS):

  • Bone cortex: remains hypointense

  • Bone marrow edema or stress fractures: appear hyperintense

  • Highlights soft-tissue insertions and enthesopathies

STIR:

  • Suppresses fat, making pubic marrow edema, stress injuries, and osteitis pubis appear hyperintense

  • Highly sensitive for early injury detection in athletes

T1 Post-Gadolinium (with fat saturation):

  • Bone cortex: non-enhancing

  • Marrow: may enhance if infiltrated by tumor or infection

  • Soft tissues: enhancement shows enthesitis, abscesses, or neoplastic spread

3D T2-weighted Imaging:

  • Bone cortex: sharply hypointense, outlining body of pubis

  • Provides multiplanar reconstructions of pubic symphysis and acetabular contribution

  • Useful for evaluating congenital deformities, symphyseal disorders, and preoperative planning

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Bone cortex: hyperdense

  • Bone marrow: less dense compared to cortex

  • Excellent for visualizing fractures, symphyseal diastasis, and degenerative changes

CT Post-Contrast:

  • Bone cortex: unchanged

  • Surrounding soft tissues: enhancement may indicate infection, tumor, or hematoma

  • Helps evaluate osteomyelitis, tumors, and pelvic trauma with associated vascular injury

 

CT VRT 3D image

Body of pubis 3d IMAGE

CT image

Body of pubis CT axial image

MRI image

Body of pubis MRI axial anatomy image-img-00000-00000