The Hip

Question 1

What type of joint is the hip?

Answer 1

Synovial ball and socket.

Question 2

Which bones articulate at the hip joint?

Answer 2

Head (and neck) of femur and the acetabulum.

Question 3

What 5 things provide the hip with stability?

Answer 3

1) deep insertion of femur head into acetabulum
2) presence of strong, tight, articular capsule
3) ligaments around the joint capsule (especially anteriorly)
4) large, powerful muscles surrounding capsule
5) ligament within the articular capsule

Question 4

What is the ‘acetabulum’?

Answer 4

A circular rim of fibrocartilage where the acetabular labrum deepens the socket and it is made up of 3 bones: ischium, ilium and pubis

Question 5

Which 3 bones make up the acetabulum?

Answer 5

Ischium, ilium, pubis

Question 6

What is the ‘acetabular notch’?

Answer 6

The lower portion of the acetabulum is incomplete, and this is the acetabular notch; this is where blood vessels enter the joint

Question 7

What part of the femur is contained within the articular capsule?

Answer 7

Medial half of the posterior surface of the femoral neck and the anterior surface of the femoral neck. All of the head.

Question 8

How does the articular capsule differ in thickness over superior anterior and inferior posterior regions?

Answer 8

Capsule strongest and thickest over upper and anterior part and is thinner over the lower and posterior parts of the femur.

Question 9

What is the strongest ligament of the hip joint?

Answer 9

Anterior iliofemoral ligament

Question 10

What is the function of the anterior iliofemoral ligament?

Answer 10

Prevents excessive extension of the hip. Relaxed in flexion, taut in extension, as in extension, it works to hold the femoral head in the acetabulum.

Question 11

How do the posterior ligaments of the hip differ from the anterior ligaments?

Answer 11

The posterior ligaments are weaker and do not cover the whole femoral neck.

Question 12

What movements are possible at the hip joint?

Answer 12

All of them

Question 13

Which muscles are involved in flexion at the hip (sitting)?

Answer 13

Iliopsoase muscles = iliacus and psoas major muscles.

Question 14

Which nerve innervates the main flexor muscles of the hip?

Answer 14

Femoral nerve

Question 15

Which muscle(s) are involved in extension at the hip (standing)?

Answer 15

Gluteus maximus

Question 16

Which nerve innervates the main hip extensor?

Answer 16

Inferior gluteal nerve

Question 17

Which muscle(s) are involved in abduction at the hip?

Answer 17

Gluteus medius and minimus muscles

Question 18

Which nerve innervates the main hip abductors?

Answer 18

Superior gluteal nerve

Question 19

Which muscle(s) are involved in adduction at the hip?

Answer 19

Adductor muscles on medial side of thigh

Question 20

Which nerve innervates the main hip adductors?

Answer 20

Obturator nerve

Question 21

Which muscle(s) are involved in medial rotation at the hip?

Answer 21

Gluteus medius and minimus (also tensor fasciae lata)

Question 22

Which muscle(s) are involved in lateral rotation at the hip?

Answer 22

Gluteus maximus

Question 23

What is the ‘iliotibial tract’?

Answer 23

Broad, flat tendon that acts as a long tendon for tensor fasciae latae and superficial and anterior parts of the gluteus maximus

Question 24

Where is the iliotibial tract connected?

Answer 24

Comes from the ilium (where it stabilises lateral side of hip joint) and attaches to tibia (stabilising lateral side of knee joint)

Question 25

How may a dislocated hip compromise a nerve?

Answer 25

Hip dislocation usually causes the femur to displace posteriorly, and behind the femur there is the sciatic nerve, and therefore a dislocation can incur nerve damage.

Question 26

Name the three different types of femur fractures.

Answer 26

Subcapital (high in femoral neck), cervical (across the femoral neck), pretrochanteric (in the region of the trochanters)

Question 27

What is the most common type of femur fraction

Answer 27

Cervical (across the femur neck)

Question 28

How can you distinguish between whether someone has dislocated their hip or broken their femur?

Answer 28

In hip dislocation foot and leg are medially rotated, in femur fracture the leg and foot are laterally rotated.

Question 29

What is the main blood supply to the femoral head?

Answer 29

Medial and lateral femoral circumflex arteries (which branch from the profunda femoris)