Ischial tuberosity

Looks like

The thick, rough lower part of the hip bone at the back — the bone you sit on.

What it does

Takes your weight when sitting and anchors the hamstrings and a strong pelvic ligament.

Keeping it well

Hamstring tendons can tear off it in sprinting or waterskiing (a sudden pop high in the back of the thigh — see a doctor early). Long sitting on hard seats inflames the bursa over it.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Developmental dysplasia of the hip
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Obstructed labour and obstetric fistula
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency