Medical Term Glossary

Plain-language explanations of the medical terms that appear on CT, MRI and X-ray reports — what each one means, when it matters, and what to ask your doctor.

All Brain Spine Chest Abdomen Msk Pelvis General

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Acetabulum

The hip socket — the cup-shaped hollow in the side of the pelvis that cradles the ball at the top of the thigh bone. Together they form the ball-and-socket hip joint. On a report it is usually just naming the socket side of the hip. The word itself is plain anatomy.

Also: acetabula, hip joint socket, hip socket

I

P

Pubis

This is the front part of your pelvis, the bone you can feel low down at the front, below the belly and above the groin. The left and right halves meet in the middle at a small joint. Reports name it to point to the front of the pelvic ring when describing a finding.

Also: front pelvic bone, os pubis, pubic bone

S

Sacroiliac joint

The paired joints that connect the lower spine (sacrum) to the back of the pelvis (iliac bones), one on each side. They sit deep in the lower back, transfer weight between the spine and the legs, and move very little. They are common to mention on scans and are a frequent source of low back and buttock pain.

Also: SI joint, SI joints, SIJ

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Medical Term Glossary

A

Acetabulum

I

Ilium

Ischium

P

Pubis

S

Sacroiliac joint

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