Hip Joint Anatomy & What are the functions
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint that is the point of articulation between the head of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvis. The joint is a diarthrodial joint with its inherent stability dictated primarily by its osseous components/articulations. Read the article to know more.
Nivedita Dar30 Jul, 2024
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Your hip joint is an articulation between head of the femur and acetabulum of pelvic bone. Is is an example of ball and socket joint which is a synovial joint. We can understand the importance of this joint by this fact that this joint supports our body weight and helps in the movement of legs.
What is a Joint ?
Joints are the contact between two or more bones. Functionally three types of joints are immovable , partially movable and freely movable . Histologically joints are of 3 types namely fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints and synovial joints.So what is a synovial joint?
As discussed above histologically there are three types of joint I.e fibrous, cartilaginous and synovial joint. Synovial joints are freely movable joints.So what are components ?
It is the well understood fact that joints are made by the articulation of bones but besides bones there are other anatomical structures which are involved in making the joint stable.What are the other anatomical structures ?
Cartilages, bursa, ligaments, synovium and muscles are also involved in making the hip joint stable.What are the functions ?
It was described earlier that hip joint connects the central axial skeleton to your legs so it has many important functions namely , providing balance to the upper body, movement of leg and holding the body weight.What are the blood and nerve supply ?
It is well known fact that only bones and ligaments, tendons and muscles are not sufficient for making the joint movable and also blood supply is indispensable too. There are nerves which innervates the hip joint namely femoral nerve, obturator nerve and superior gluteal nerve. Blood supply is mainly by medial circumflex and lateral circumflex femoral arteriesHip Joint FAQs
What movement can be performed at hip joint ?
We know that hip joint is the example of synovial hip and is freely movable so various movements can be performed at this joint which includes flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction and hip rotation.
What is the bony pelvis ?
It was mentioned above that hip joint is formed by the articulation of pelvic acetabulum and head of femur. Pelvis is a basin shaped complex of bones. Each pelvic bone is made up of three bones namely pubis, ilium, ischium
What ligaments are used in making the hip joint stable ?
Bones itself are not capable of stabilising the joints so some accessory structures are required for providing stability to joints. So the ligaments used are iliofemoral ligaments, pubofemoral ligament, ischiofemoral ligament,and ligamentum trees.
What muscles group are associated with the hip joint ?
Muscles are are important anatomical structures for carrying out movement.
The muscle group associated with hip joint are as follow-
Flexors Psoas muscles, iliacus, Pectineus, Rectus femoris.
Extensors Gluteus maximums, semitendinosous, biceps femoris
Adductors Adductor Magnus , adductor breves , gracilis
Abductors Gluteus medius
Internal rotators Gluteus minimus
External rotators are mainly gluteus maximum, obturator external, interns and quadratics femoris
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