Hip

It is a ball-like joint formed by the head of the femur and the cavity of the acetabulum.

The ligaments that form this joint are:

Joint Capsule – The joint capsule is strong and thick and surrounds the entire hip joint. It is thicker in the proximal and anterior regions of the joint, where greater resistance is required. Posteriorly and distally it is thin and loose.

Iliofemoral Ligament – It is a very resistant bundle, located anterior to the joint. It is intimately joined to the capsule and serves to reinforce it.

Pubofemoral ligament – It inserts on the obturator crest and on the superior branch of the pubis; distally, it fuses with the capsule and the deep surface of the vertical bundle of the iliofemoral ligament.

Ischiofemoral Ligament – Consists of a triangular bundle of resistant fibers, which arises from the distal ischium and posterior to the acetabulum and fuses with the circular fibers of the capsule.

Ligament of the Head of the Femur – It is a triangular bundle, somewhat flattened, inserting in the apex of the fovea of the head of the femur and in the notch of the cavity of the acetabulum. It has little function as a ligament and is sometimes absent.

Acetabular rim – It is a fibrocartilaginous rim inserted into the margin of the acetabulum, thus making this cavity deeper. At the same time, it protects and evens out the unevenness of its surface, thus forming a complete circle that surrounds the head of the femur and helps to hold it in place.

Transverse Acetabular Ligament – It is a part of the acetabular rim, differing from this one in that it does not have cartilage fibers between its fibers. It consists of strong flattened fibers that cross the acetabular notch.

PREVIOUS VIEW OF THE JOINT STRUCTURES OF THE HIP

Source: NETTER, Frank H.. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd edition Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2000.

REAR VIEW OF THE JOINT STRUCTURES OF THE HIP

Source: NETTER, Frank H.. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd edition Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2000.

JOINT STRUCTURES OF THE HIP

Source: NETTER, Frank H.. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd edition Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2000.