Question

Medicolegal importance of pectinate line of hip bone forensic medicine

Answer 1

Introduction

Superior ramus of pubic bone has three borders namely inferior border, anterior border and posterior border also known as pectineal line. Pectineal line extends from pubic tubercle to iliopubic eminence. One female and two male hip bones were found to possess bony projections arising from pectineal line lateral to pubic tubercle. The case has been reported for its virgin occurrence.

Case report

During examination of hip bones in the osteology lab of department of anatomy, KG Medical University, Lucknow, UP, India. 3 out 100 hip bones found to have bony projection erupting from pectineal line of pubic bone. The length and thickness of these bony tubercles in female hip bone were 5mm each. The length and thickness in one male hip bone were 6mm and 5mm respectively. These measurements in other male hip bone were 6mm and 4mm.

Discussion

Pectineal line which gives attachment to lacunar ligament, pectineus muscle and conjoint tendon. Bony tubercle arising from pectineal line might be form due to ossification of lacunarligament/ pectineus muscle/ conjoint tendon. These bony spurs may impinge on surrounding structures damaging them creating clinical complications. The knowledge will be of utmost use to anatomists, radiologists, clinicians and anthropologists.

Introduction
Pubic bone is one of the constituent of hip bone. It consists of body, superior ramus and inferior ramus. Superior ramus is triangular in cross section. It has three borders namely, Posterior border known as pectineal line or pectin pubis extending from pubic tubercle to iliopubic eminence, anterior border also known as obturator crest extending from pubic tubercle to acetabular notch and Inferior border.

Pectineal surface lies between pectineal line and obturator crest. Pectineal line gives attachment to conjoint tendon, lacunar ligament and pectineus muscle. One female and two male hip bones were found to possess bony projections arising from pectineal line lateral to pubic tubercle. The bony tubercle may impinge on surrounding structures causing bundle of complications. The case has been reported for its virgin occurrence.

Case report
During routine examination of hip bones in the osteology lab in the department of anatomy of KGMU, Lucknow, UP, India, three hip bones (one female and two male) were found to have bony projection from the pectineal line. The length and thickness of bony tubercle on pectineal line in female hip bone (left side) were 5 mm each (Fig. 1).


Figure 1:
anterolateral view of female hip bone showing bony projection fr