The joint in your hip is a ball-and-socket joint. This type of joint allows for a wide range of motion while providing the stability necessary to support your body weight.
Anatomy of the Hip Joint
- The socket, called the acetabulum, is part of your pelvis.
- The ball is the head of your thighbone (femur).
This unique structure allows for movement in multiple directions, including flexion (bending), extension (straightening), abduction (moving away from the body), adduction (moving towards the body), and rotation.
Several sources confirm this:
- Cleveland Clinic: “Your hip joint is a connection point between your legs and your torso. Specifically, it's made up of your thigh bone (femur) and your hip bone (pelvis).”
- Cedars-Sinai: A hip fracture is "a break in the thighbone (femur) of your hip joint. Joints are areas where two or more bones meet."(https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/articles.html)
Common Hip Joint Issues
Problems with the hip joint can cause pain and limit mobility. These problems include:
- Hip arthritis: Cartilage damage within the joint. “Hip arthritis is cartilage damage in the hip joint. It's a common condition that can be painful and worsen over time, affecting your mobility and quality of life…”
- Hip injuries: Fractures, labral tears, and dislocations.
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursae (fluid-filled sacs) around the joint.
