The female pelvis is adapted to accommodate pregnancy and form a wider birth canal. The male pelvis is generally adapted for greater body mass and muscular attachment.

These are typical sex-related patterns, not absolute rules. Individual pelvic anatomy varies, and skeletal sex assessment uses several features together rather than one feature alone. The anatomy descriptions align with the General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System (Thieme Atlas) and Forensic Anthropology: A Comprehensive Introduction, which describe the female pelvis as broader with a larger oval inlet and the male pelvis as taller, narrower, and more robust. A StatPearls pelvic outlet review similarly notes the wider female subpubic angle and outlet.