Anatomy of the Hip

Question 1

Hip

Answer 1

A ball and socket joint between the femur and the pelvis

Question 2

Structures of the pelvis

Answer 2

Pelvis=”basin”
Is comprised of three bones
-Ilium
-Ischia
-Pubis

These three bones connect at the hip socket, called acetabulum

Ilium forms the sacro-iliacal-joint to connect with sacrum

Question 3

Muscles of the hip

Answer 3

• Hip flexor group: muscles that cross the front (anterior) of the hip.
• Hip extensor group: muscles that cross the back (posterior) of the hip.
• Hip abductor group: muscles that cross the outside (lateral side) of the hip.
• Hip adductor group: muscles that cross the inside (medial side) of the hip.
• Hip rotators: muscles that cross the hip joint diagonally.

Question 4

Hip flexors

Answer 4

Rectus femoris
* The rectus femoris is the only quadricep muscle that crosses both the knee and hip.
* It can flex the thigh at the hip, as well as straighten the knee.

Sartorius
* Inserts on the front hip point (ASIS - anterior superior iliac spine) and the inner knee
* Action: flexes and externally rotates thigh at hip; can help abduct hip, assists in knee flexion

Iliacus
-lines the inner rim of the pelvis, connects with the
psoas and inserts on the inner femur (lesser trochanter)

Psoas
* Connects the upper to lower body.
* Runs from the front to the back of the body.
* Action: flexes the hip and stabilizes the spine.
* Gets tight through daily activity (sitting,
walking, driving).
* Impacts the lower back.

Question 5

Hip extensors

Answer 5

Gluteus maximus
* Commonly called, “the glutes”
* Largest muscle in the body
* Power muscle
* With superficial fascia (fat), makes up your buttocks
* Essential for walking, running, squatting
* Action: extends and externally rotates the thigh at the
hip
* Attaches from ilium, sacrum and coccyx to the IT
Band and femur

Hamstrings
* Three hamstring muscles on each leg.
* All attach on the sitting bones to the inner or
outer knee.
* They cross two joints (hip and knee)
* Because they cross two joints, they affect
both the knee and the hip.
* Action: extend hip and flex (bend) knee.
* Tight hamstrings may pull the pelvis into a
posterior tilt (“slumpasana”)

Question 6

Hip adductors

Answer 6

Five muscles on the medial side of the femur
* Action: adduct the hip (pull the femur inwards), also assist in internal rotation
* Range in size
* Begin on the pubic bone and run to the inner femur

Question 7

Hip abductors

Answer 7

The muscles on the outer thigh abduct the hip.
* Action: abduct the hip (pull the femur
outwards) and can also assist in rotating the
hip.
* These muscles are essential in stabilizing us
in balancing poses and keeping the hip from
“popping out”

Question 8

The deep six

Answer 8

The “deep six’ are small muscles deep inside the pelvis that
work to stabilize the femur and assist in external rotation.
One of them, called the piriformis, may overtighten on top of
the sciatic nerve, causing “piriformis syndrome” (symptoms
like sciatica).