Comprehensive Guide to Hip Anatomy and Conditions
The hip joint is where the upper body connects to the lower body. As such, it’s critically important for walking, bending, and lifting, among others. All of the anatomical parts of the hip must work together to enable various hip movements. If any part of the hip has injuries, problems, or conditions, it can not only cause tremendous pain, but severely limit a person’s ability to move and function. We’re here to help your hip health, so you can have the foundation for a happy, pain-free life.
To help you discuss hip problems, conditions and treatment options with your surgeon, here’s a breakdown of the anatomy of the hip.
- Anatomy
- Conditions
- Procedures
Hip Anatomy
The hip joint is the largest weight-bearing joint in the human body, and is a ball and socket joint that is surrounded by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Bones of the Hip
The hip joint is the junction where the hip joins the leg to the trunk of the body. It is composed of two bones:
- The thigh bone, or femur
- The pelvis, which is made up of three bones called ilium, ischium, and pubis The hip bone is covered by a thin, tough, flexible and slippery surface called articular cartilage, and enables smooth movements of the bones and reduces friction.
Joints of the Hip
The ball of the hip joint is made by the femoral head, while the socket is made by the acetabulum. The acetabulum,muscles, and ligaments surround and support the hip joint.
Ligaments of the Hip
Ligaments of the hip joint provide stability to the hip by forming a dense and fibrous structure around the joint capsule. There are four ligaments adjoining the hip joint:
- Iliofemoral ligament is a Y-shaped ligament that connects the pelvis to the femoral head at the front of the joint to help in limiting over-extension.
- Pubofemoral ligament is a triangular shaped ligament that extends between the upper portion of the pubis and the iliofemoral ligament, and attaches the pubis to the femoral head.
- Ischiofemoral ligament is a group of strong fibers from the ischium behind the acetabulum that merge with the fibers of the joint capsule.
- Ligamentum teres is a small ligament that extends from the tip of the femoral head to the acetabulum, and has a small artery that supplies blood to the femoral head.
- Acetabular labrum is a fibrous cartilage ring that lines the acetabular socket, deepens the cavity, and increases the stability and strength of the hip joint.
Muscles and Tendons of the Hip Joint
The iliotibial band is a long tendon that runs from the hip to the knee, and is an attachment site for several hip muscles:
- Gluteals are three muscles (gluteus minimus, gluteus maximus, and gluteus medius) that attach to the back of the pelvis to form the buttocks.
- Adductors are located in the thigh which helps pull the leg back towards the midline.
- Iliopsoas is located in front of the hip joint and provides flexion.
- Rectus femoris is the largest band of muscles located in front of the thigh, and provides hip flexion.
- Hamstring muscles begin at the bottom of the pelvis and run down the back of the thigh, and help in extension of the hip by pulling it backward.
Nerves of the Hip
The main nerves in the hip region are the femoral nerve in the front of the femur and the sciatic nerve at the back. The hip is also supplied by a smaller nerve known as the obturator nerve.
Arteries of the Hip
The femoral artery, one of the largest arteries in the body, travels through the hip to supply blood to the lower limbs.
Suffering from hip injuries or conditions? Ready to feel what it’s like to live free of hip problems and pain? Let us help your hips.
Hip Pain
Hip pain, one of the common complaints, may not always be felt precisely over the hip joint rather in and around the hip joint. The cause for pain is multifactorial and the exact position of your hip pain suggests the probable cause or underlying condition causing it.
Hip Arthritis
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs most often in the elderly. This disease affects the tissue covering the ends of bones in a joint called cartilage. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged and worn out, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted movement in the affected joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the lining of your joints becomes inflamed, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. It is an autoimmune disease because it occurs when your immune system, which normally fights against infection, starts destroying healthy joints.
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
Minimally invasive total hip replacement is a surgical procedure performed through one or two small incisions rather than the single long incision of 10–12-inches as in the traditional approach.
Anterior Hip Replacement
Direct anterior hip replacement is a minimally invasive hip surgery to replace the hip joint without cutting through any muscles or tendons as against traditional hip replacement that involves cutting major muscles to access the hip joint.
Hip Revision
During total hip replacement, the damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the hip joint and replaced with artificial components. At times, hip replacement implants can wear out for various reasons and may need to be replaced with the help of a surgical procedure known as revision hip replacement surgery.