Iliac crest - wikipedia Iliac crest Iliac crest Pelvic girdle. Overview of Ilium as largest bone of the pelvis. Details Identifiers Latin crista iliaca TA A02. 5.01. 106 FMA 16914 Anatomical terms of bone ( edit on Wikidata ) The crest of the ilium ( or iliac crest ) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Development 2 Function 3 Clinical significance 4 Additional images 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine ( ASIS ) to the posterior superior iliac spine ( PSIS ). Behind the ASIS, it divides into an outer and inner lip separated by the intermediate zone. The outer lip bulges laterally into the iliac tubercle. Palpable in its entire length, the crest is convex superiorly but is sinuously curved, being concave inward in front, concave outward behind. It is thinner at the center than at the extremities. Development The iliac crest is derived from endochondral bone. Function To the external lip are attached the Tensor fasciae latae, Obliquus externus abdominis, and Latissimus dorsi, and along its whole length the fascia lata ; to the intermediate line, the Obliquus internus abdominis. To the internal lip, the iliac fascia, the Transversus abdominis, Quadratus lumborum, Sacrospinalis, and Iliacus. Abdominal external oblique muscle Abdominal internal oblique muscle Transversus abdominis muscle Quadratus lumborum muscle Erector spinae Iliocostalis pars lumborum Longissimus pars thoracis Latissimus dorsi Tensor fasciae latae Iliacus muscle Fascia lata Iliac fascia Transverse fascia Clinical significance A fracture of the left iliac wing The iliac crest has a large amount of red bone marrow, and thus it is the site of bone marrow harvests ( from both sides ) to collect the stem cells used in bone marrow transplantation. The iliac crest is also considered the most ideal donor site for bone grafting when a large quantity of bone is needed. For example, oral and maxillofacial surgeons will often use iliac crest bone to fill in large osseous defects of the oral cavity caused by severe periodontal disease, excess bone resorption following tooth loss, trauma, or congenital defects including alveolar clefts. The top of the iliac crests also marks the level of the fourth lumbar vertebral body ( L4 ), above or below which lumbar puncture may be performed. Additional images Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. Left iliac crest is labeled in red. Plan of ossification of the hip bone. The Obliquus internus abdominis. Muscles of the iliac and anterior femoral regions. The relations of the kidneys from behind. Iliac crest labeled at center right. Iliac crest See also This article uses anatomical terminology ; for an overview, see Anatomical terminology. Apollo 's belt Hip pointer References This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 234 of the 20th edition of Gray 's Anatomy ( 1918 ) Jump up ^ Platzer ( 2004 ), p 186 Jump up ^ Palastanga ( 2006 ), p 243 Jump up ^ Bogduk ( 2005 ), p 106 Jump up ^ Rose, Louis F... Periodontics : Medicine, Surgery and Implants. Mosby, 072004. 26.2. 2.3 Bogduk, Nikolai ; Endres, Stephen M. ( 2005 ). Clinical anatomy of the lumbar spine and sacrum ( 4th ed. ). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 106. ISBN 0 - 443 - 10119 - 1. Palastanga, Nigel ; Field, Derek ; Soames, Roger ( 2006 ). Anatomy and Human Movement : Structure and Function. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 0 - 7506 - 8814 - 9. Platzer, Werner ( 2004 ). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1 : Locomotor System ( 5th ed. ). Thieme. ISBN 3 - 13 - 533305 - 1. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iliac crest. Anatomy figure : 13 : 02 - 01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - `` Superficial muscles of the gluteal region and posterior thigh. '' Anatomy photo : 35 : os - 0104 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - `` Anterior Abdominal Wall : Osteology and Surface Anatomy '' Atlas image : back_bone30 at the University of Michigan Health System - `` The Back, Posterior View '' ( # 4 ) Diagram at emedx.com Diagram at nih.gov Bones of the pelvis General sacrum coccyx hip bone Ilium body arcuate line wing gluteal lines posterior anterior inferior iliac spines anterior superior anterior inferior posterior superior posterior inferior other : crest tuberosity tubercle fossa Ischium body ischial spine lesser sciatic notch superior ramus tuberosity of the ischium inferior ramus no substructures Pubis body pubic crest superior ramus pubic tubercle obturator crest inferior ramus pectineal line Compound acetabulum acetabular notch iliopubic eminence / iliopectineal line linea terminalis ischiopubic ramus / pubic arch Foramina obturator foramen greater sciatic foramen / greater sciatic notch lesser sciatic foramen Landmarks pelvic inlet pelvic brim pelvic outlet Anatomy portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iliac_crest&oldid=825179666 '' Categories : Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 20th edition of Gray 's Anatomy ( 1918 ) Human anatomy Bones of the pelvis Ilium ( bone ) Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Español فارسی Italiano Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 11 February 2018, at 23 : 03. 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Question: what vertebra is at the level of the iliac crest
Answer: the fourth lumbar vertebral body (L4)