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United States
- Glossary
- | Contact Us
- | FAQ
- | Site Index
- Your Hip Anatomy
- Staying Active
- Nutrition and Medication
- Lifestyle Modifications
- How your doctor chooses treatment
- Hip arthroscopy
- Hip resurfacing
- Hip replacement
- Hip revision surgery
Your Hip Anatomy
What is the hip joint and what does it do?
Bones of the hip
Cartilage of the hip
Ligaments of the hip
Muscles of the hip
Your hip joint is designed for both mobility and stability. The hip joint allows your entire lower extremity to move in three planes of motion:
- forward and backward
- side to side
- rotating right and left
Your hip joint provides vital shock absorption to the torso and upper body as well as stability during standing and other weight-bearing activities.
Your hip is comprised of four main components:
- Bones
- Cartilage
- Ligaments
- Muscles
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint uniting two separate bones – the thighbone, or femur, and the pelvis. Your pelvis features two cup-shaped depressions called sockets or acetabulum. One is on either side of the body. Your thighbone is the longest bone in the body and connects into the pelvis at your hip joint. The head of the thighbone is shaped like a ball and fits tightly into the socket, forming the ball-and-socket joint of the hip.
The socket is lined with cartilage, which cushions your bones during weight-bearing activities and allows the joint to rotate smoothly and freely in all directions with minimal friction. Around the rim of the acetabulum is a layer of fibrous cartilage called the labrum, which deepens the socket and provides a suction seal to hold the head of the femur firmly in place.
The complex system of ligaments connects your thighbone to the pelvis and is essential for stability, keeping your hip from moving outside of its normal range of motion.
The muscles of your hip joint have two jobs. One is to work together to provide power for the hip to move in all directions. The other is to stabilize the entire leg and foot.
How does arthritis affect your hip joint?
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Explore osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis and a progressive, degenerative disease that most often occurs in middle-aged and older adults.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hip
Explore rheumatoid arthritis, causes, symptoms and information on non-surgical and surgical treatment options.
- Post-traumatic Arthritis of the Hip
Learn more about post-traumatic arthritis caused from hip injury including pain symptoms, hip swelling and joint stiffness.
- Avascular Necrosis
Learn more about avascular necrosis and arthritis of the hip joint. Explore causes of hip pain and joint pain. Find non-surgical and surgical treatments.