6 - Anatomy of the Hip

Question 1

The left and right hip bones are known as …………… bones.

Answer 1

Innominate

Question 2

What are the three articulations of the hip bones?

Answer 2

• Sacroiliac joint
• Pubic symphysis
• Hip joint

Question 3

Describe the composition of the hip bone (innominate bone).

Answer 3

3 parts:

• Ilium
• Pubis
• Ischium

Separated by the triradiate cartilage in a child, with complete fusion by age 20-25

For a cup-shaped socket called the acetabulum

Question 4

Where in the hip bone is the ilium located? What are it’s key osteological features?

Answer 4

• Located superiorly
• Iliac crest - top of the ilium
• Iliac fossa - concavity on the internal surface (iliacus muscle)
• Iliac wing - convex on external surface (gluteal muscles)
• ASIS/AIIS
• PSIS/PIIS

Question 5

On the posterior aspect of the ilium there is an indentation, what is this called?

Answer 5

Greater sciatic notch

Question 6

Where is the pubis located and what are it’s key osteological features?

Answer 6

• The most anterior portion of the hip bone
• Pubic symphysis - articulates with the oppostie pubic body
• Superior pubic ramus - laterally from pubic body to acetabulum
• Inferior pubic ramus - laterally from pubic body to inferior ischial ramus

The superior and inferior rami enclose the obturator foramen

Question 7

Where is the ischium located and what are it’s key osteological features?

Answer 7

• Posteroinferior part of the hip bone
• Ischial tuberosity - on the postoinferior aspect
• Ischial spine - posteromedial projection

Question 8

Which two main ligaments attach to the ischium and create the sciatic foramina?

Answer 8

• Sacrospinous ligament - ischial spine to the sacrum - greater sciatic foramen
• Sacrotuberous ligament - ischial tuberosity to the sacrum - lesser sciatic foramen

Question 9

What type of joint is the hip joint?

Answer 9

Ball and socket synovial joint

Question 10

What are the two articulating surfaces of the hip joint?

Answer 10

Head of the femur and the pelvic acetabulum

Question 11

Describe the factors that stabilise the hip joint.

Answer 11

• The acetabulum - cup-like socket
• The acetabular labrum - deepens the acetabulum (increases contact area by 10%)
• Ligamentum teres - connects the head of the femur to the acetabulum
• Joint capsule - attached to intertrochanteric line anteriorly and femoral neck posteriorly
• Extracapsular ligaments - iliofemoral, pubofemoral and ischiofemoral
• The muscles surrounding the joint

Question 12

Which bones does the femur articulate with?

Answer 12

• Hip bone (innominate bone)
• Tibia
• Patella

Question 13

The depression in the centre of the femoral head is called the ….. …… . What attaches here?

Answer 13

• Fovea capitis
• Ligamentum teres attaches here

Question 14

The large bony prominences at the proximal end of the femur are called …?

Answer 14

The greater and lesser trochanters

Question 15

What structures connect the greater and lesser trochanters:

• anteriorly?
• posteriorly?

Answer 15

• Anteriorly connected by intertrochanteric line
• Posteriorly connected by intertrochanteric crest

Question 16

The ridge on the posterior of the femoral shaft is called the ….. ……

Answer 16

Linea aspera

Question 17

The linea aspera diverges into what structures at its proximal and distal ends?

Answer 17

• Proximal - gluteal tuberosity (lateral) and pectineal line (medial)
• Distal - medial and lateral supracondylar lines

Question 18

The medial supracondylar line terminates at what structure on the medial condyle of the femur?

Answer 18

Adductor tubercle

Question 19

Where does the lateral supracondylar line terminate?

Answer 19

Lateral femoral condyle

Question 20

What structures separate the femoral condyles on the anterior and posterior surfaces?

Answer 20

• Anterior - intercondylar notch
• Posterior - trochlear (patellofemoral) groove