The human hip joint is often referred to as a ball and socket type joint. The “socket” is located within the pelvis bone. The medical term for the hip socket is the acetabulum. The acetabulum articulates with the “ball” of the thigh bone. The thigh bone is referred to as the femur and the ball of the femur is called the femoral head. Together the femoral head and the acetabulum support the weight of the entire body despite their considerable flexibility and range of motion.
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Range of Motion Video
The acetabulum is a hemispherical bony structure located in the pelvis. Both the acetabulum and the femoral head are covered with a tissue called hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage acts as a smooth friction reducing coating that is several millimeters thick. The acetabulum also has a fibrous tissue that surrounds the outside rim of it. This is referred to as the acetabular labrum. Damage to the labrum is a very frequent indication for hip arthroscopy. The transverse ligament crosses horizontally across the lower area of the acetabulum in addition to the hips blood and nerve supply. Outside of the hip joint there are numerous ligaments and muscles that support the hip joint and provide motion.
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