The Hip Joint

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The rounded head of the femur (thighbone) forms the ball, which fits into the acetabulum (a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis). The labrum is a circular layer of cartilage that surrounds the outer part of the acetabulum effectively making the socket deeper to provide more stability for the joint. Ligaments connect the ball to the socket and usually provide tremendous stability to the joint. There are two protrusions near the top of the femur, known as the greater and lesser trochanters. The muscles involved in hip motion are attached to the joint at these trochanters. The various muscles which attach to or cover the hip joint generate the hip’s movement