Anatomy of Hip Joint

Hip Joint Overview

• The hip joint is a ball and socket joint formed by the acetabulum of the pelvis and the head of the femur.
• It allows for a wide range of motion and is crucial for weight bearing activities and movement.

Hip Joint Capsule and Capsular Ligaments

• The hip joint capsule is tight in flexion and more relaxed in extension.
• The iliofemoral ligament, also known as the Bigelow Y ligament, is the strongest ligament in the body.
• It connects the femur's intertrochanteric crest to the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS).
• Other capsular ligaments include the pubofemoral and ischiofemoral ligaments.

Muscles and Movement

• Flexion: iliopsoas, rectus femoris, Sartorius, pectineus
• Extension: gluteus maximus, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris (the hamstrings)
• Abduction: gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, piriformis, and TFL
• Adduction: adductors longus, brevis, and magnus, pectineus, and gracilis
• Lateral rotation: biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, piriformis, assisted by the obturators, gemilli, and quadratus femoris

Blood Supply

• The hip joint receives blood supply from the medial circumflex and lateral circumflex femoral arteries.
• Both arteries are branches of the profunda femoris (deep artery of the thigh).

Nerve Supply

• The hip joint receives innervations from the femoral, obturator, and superior gluteal nerves.

Hip Joint Injuries

• Hip Fracture: a break in the upper portion of the femur (thighbone), often seen in the elderly due to osteoporosis or traumatic injuries.
• Hip Dislocation: a painful event in which the ball of the hip comes out of its socket, usually resulting from high energy trauma.
• Hip Bursitis: an inflammation of bursae (fluid-filled sacs) around the hip joint, causing pain and limited movement.
• Osteoarthritis: a degenerative joint disease causing cartilage breakdown, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.