The hip and knee joints

Question 1

What is the hip joint?

Answer 1

The lower limb articulates with the trunk via the pelvis - known as the hip joint

Question 2

What does the pelvis consist of?

Answer 2

The pelvis consists of two hip bones which unite at the front (anteriorly) and posteriorly they articulate with the sacrum (lower part of the spine)

Question 3

What does the hip bone (innominate bone) consist of?

Answer 3

The hip bone consists of three bones that are connected by a bony fusion (The ileum, the ischaem and the pubis)

Question 4

The ileum

Answer 4

• The iliac crest is superior to the hip bone and next to it is the iliac tubule
• Two bony prominences called the posterior iliac spines (provide muscle and ligament attachment points)

Question 5

The anterior innominate bone

Answer 5

• Bridge from ileum bone to pubis = rami = superior pubic ramus
• Pubic bones connected = pubic synthesis

Question 6

The sacrum

Answer 6

• Innominate bones articulate with the spine by the sacrum

- Anterior side sits 5 vertebrae

Question 7

The false and true pelvis

Answer 7

• Posterior surface of sacrum has very strong ligaments
• Sacrum to ischael tuberosity = sacro-tuberous ligament
• Ischael spine to sacrum = sacrus spinus ligament
• Fake pelvis = wings of the ileum
• True pelvis = formed in the pelvic inlet

Question 8

Acetabulum and femur

Answer 8

• The femur articulates with the innominate bone at the hip joint
• The recriprocal socket at the hip joint is the acetabulum/acetabular fossa
• The acetabulum consists of all three bones of the innominate bone and has an inferior notch
• Femur has head, neck and shaft
• Head of femur matches acetabular socket
• The fovia is the reciprocal part of the femur for blood vessel that comes through on the pelvis
• Femur has surgical and anatomical neck

Question 9

Differences in pelvis shape

Answer 9

• Human pelvis is adapted for bipedalism, but female pelvises have further adaptations.
• There is more space in the true pelvis for females - more horizontal wings of the ileum
• Wings of ileum in male pelvis are much more vertical
• Female false pelvis is much more shallow than male pelvis
• Male pelvic inlet is more heart-shaped, female = more oval-shaped
• Ischael spines in female are distanced further apart than male.