Hip Joint
The bodies we have are not made for extended use. We must cope with accumulated DNA damage, cell damage, muscle atrophy, bone loss, decreased muscle mass, and joints worn out from overuse during a lifetime of bipedal locomotion. It might have worked great for prehistoric humans, but it wreaks havoc on our knees and hips - S. Jay Olshansky
image by: HWN
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Understanding the Anatomy of the Hip: Joints and Ligaments
Unlike the shoulder, the hip has an intracapsular ligament—which means it’s within the joint capsule itself—known as the round ligament of the femur—or sometimes by the Latin name ligamentum teres femoris. It attaches the deep aspect of the acetabulum to the fovea capitis on the head of the femur.
The combination of this ligament within the capsule and the depth of the acetabulum—caused in part by the labrum—help make the hip quite stable. Remember, when compared to the shoulder, the hip has much less mobility, but has much greater stability. That’s a trade-off in some synovial joints.
Articles of Interest
Hip Anatomy
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.
How Does a Hip Joint Move?
The hip joint is one of the most active joints in the human body and is designed for many different types of movement. It has three main axes which allow movement in all three degrees of freedom. All axes go through the rotational center of the hip joint.
KenHub
The hip joint is a multiaxial joint and permits a wide range of motion; flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation, internal rotation and circumduction. Compared to the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint, however, this joint sacrifices mobility for stability as it is designed for weight bearing. The entire weight of the upper body is transmitted through this joint to the lower limbs during standing. The hip joint is the most stable joint in the human body.
The Hip Joint
For centuries, orthopaedic surgeons have been managing the pain, limp, and gait disturbance that develop in association with various traumas and diseases of the hip joint. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that has a good range of movement, but it is stable and rarely dislocates, even after high-impact trauma, and can withstand repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. However, despite its durability, it is not indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Overuse of muscles and tendons of the hip, for example, in athletes, leads to hip pain due to muscle strain or tendonitis. Other factors that can cause pain and lead to progressive arthritic changes include the abnormal anatomy a person is born with, conditions that develop during the growth and development of bones, and trauma as well as wear and tear due to ageing. The diagnosis and management of hip injuries have evolved substantially with advances in hip arthroscopy and diagnostic tools such as MRI and new, minimally invasive techniques.
The Pain in Her Hip Was Spreading Down Her Leg. What Could It Be?
At first, it seemed like an exercise injury. But it wouldn’t go away. Smith told me that she had seen three patients who had osteoid osteomas. Each time, she discovered it while looking for something else. The tumor is called the great mimicker because it looks like so many other possibilities that are more common or more dangerous.
Resources
Teachme Anatomy
The primary function of the hip joint is to weight-bear. There are a number of factors that act to increase stability of the joint.
