View source for Hip (anatomy)

{{Infobox Anatomy |
  Name         = Hip (anatomy) |
  Latin        = coxa |
  GraySubject  = 92 |
  GrayPage     = 333 |
  Image        = Gray339.png |
  Caption      = Right hip-joint from the front. |
  Image2       = Hip.jpg |
  Caption2     = Bones of the hip |
  System       = |
  Precursor    = |
  MeshName     = Hip |
  MeshNumber   = A01.378.610.400 |
  DorlandsPre  = h_12 |
  DorlandsSuf  = 12422739  |
}}

'''Editors-In-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.]] [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] and Pranit Chotai, MBBS [mailto:orthopranit@gmail.com]

{{EH}}

In [[anatomy]], the '''hip''' is the [[bone|bony]] projection of the [[femur]] which is known as the '''greater trochanter''', and the overlying [[muscle]] and [[fat]]. The '''hip joint''' is the [[joint]] between the femur and [[acetabulum]] of the [[pelvis]] and its primary function is to support the weight of the body in both static (e.g. standing) and dynamic (e.g. walking or running) postures. 

==Description of the bones of the hips==

The hip bones are divided into 5 areas, which are:

*'''The [[sacrum]]''': This is a bone at the base of the vertebral column that is created by the fusion of 4 vertebrae. It attaches to the ilium on the sides. It also provides a point of muscle attachment for back muscles.
*'''The [[coccyx]]''' (also called the tail bone): This is a small [[vestigial]] bone that attaches to the base of the sacrum. It is created from the fusion of 4 small vertebrae.
*'''The [[ilium (bone)|ilium]]''': This is the largest area of the hip bones. It consists of 2 large broad plates, one on each side, which serve to support the internal organs, and to provide attachment for muscles of the back, sides, and buttocks. The hip joint of the femur is part of the ilium.
*'''The [[ischium]]''': The ischium consists of 2 broad curves of bone, one on each side, which lie below the ilium, and are attached to the pubis in the front and the ilium in the back. The ischium serves as a place of attachment for muscles. When a person's butt hurts from sitting on a hard surface, it is the result of the sharp ischium pressing on the buttocks.
*'''The [[Pubis (bone)|pubis]]''': The pubis is the front-most area of the hip bones. It attaches to the ilium on the sides and the ischium on the bottom. It provides structural support, and serves as a place of attachment for the muscles of the inner thigh.

==Movements==
Seven different kinds of movements are possible in the hip joint:
* [[Flexion]] and [[Anatomical terms of motion#General motion|extension]] on or from the spine or on or from the thigh
* [[Anatomical terms of motion#General motion|Abduction]] and [[Anatomical terms of motion#General motion|adduction]] of the femur
* [[Anatomical terms of motion#General motion|Internal]] (medial) and [[Anatomical terms of motion#General motion|external]] (lateral) rotation of the pelvis, thigh or spine
* [[Anatomical terms of motion#Other special motions|Circumduction]] of the femur or pelvis
A [[synovial joint]] that can produce movement in more than one axis is called a multiaxial joint.

== Anatomy of the hip joint ==
===Articulation=== <!--Hip joint redirects here-->

The '''hip joint''' is a [[synovial joint]] formed by the articulation of the rounded head of the [[femur]] and the cup-like [[acetabulum]] of the pelvis. It is classified as a ball and socket joint. It forms the primary connection between the bones of the lower limb and the [[axial skeleton]] of the trunk and pelvis. Both joint surfaces are covered with a strong but lubricated layer called articular hyaline [[cartilage]]. The cuplike acetabulum forms at the union of three pelvic bones and the joint may not be fully [[ossification|ossified]] (the process of forming bone) under the age of 25 years. The depth of the acetabulum is increased by a fibrocartilaginous rim called a [[labrum]] that grips the head of the femur and secures it in the joint. The acetabulum is oriented inferiorly, laterally and anteriorly. The magnitude of inferior orientation can be assessed using a line connecting the lateral rim of acetabulum and center of femoral head. This lines forms an angle with vertical known as center edge angle or angle of Wiberg. The magnitude of anterior orientation is referred as angle of acetabular anteversion.

The large head of the femur is completely covered in hyaline cartilage except for a small area called the fovea or pit. This is the site of attachment for an intracapsular ligament (called the ligamentum teres) that attaches directly from the head of the femur to the acetabulum. The head of the femur is attached to the pelvis by a thin neck region that is often prone to fracture in the elderly, mainly due to the degenerative effects of [[osteoporosis]].

===Capsule===

The strong but loose  fibrous capsule of the hip joints permits the hip joint to have the second largest range of movement (second only to the [[shoulder]]) and yet support the weight of the body, arms and head.The capsule is attached proximally to the entire periphery of the acetabulum beyond acetabular labrum.The capsule covers the femoral head and neck like a sleeve and attaches to the base of neck. The capsule has two sets of fibers:the longitudinal and circular fibers.The circular fibers forms a collar around the femoral neck called the zona orbicularis.the longitudinal retinacular fibers travel along the neck and carry blood vessel. As the line of gravity falls posterior to the axis of the hip joint, the combined weight of the body seeks to extend the hip joint in normal standing and make the trunk fall backwards to the ground. To resist the stretching action on the anterior joint capsule in normal upright posture, the hip has two very strong anterior ligaments.

===Ligaments===

The hip joint is reinforced by three main ligaments.
*  At the front of the joint, the strong [[iliofemoral ligament]] attaches from the pelvis to [[femur]]. This Y-shaped ligament is also known as the ligament of Bigelow. This ligament seeks to resist excessive extension of the hip joint. It is often considered to be the strongest ligament in the human body. 
* The [[pubofemoral ligament]] attaches across the front of the joint from the pubis bone of the pelvis to the femur. This ligament is orientated more inferiorly than the iliofemoral ligament and reinforces the inferior part of the hip joint capsule. It also blends with the medial parts of the iliofemoral ligament.
* The posterior of the hip joint capsule is reinforced by the [[ischiofemoral ligament]] that attaches from the ischial part of the acetabular rim to the femur. 

There is also a small ligament called [[ligamentum teres]] or the ligament of the head of the femur. The ligament is a triangularly shaped band with its base on both sides of peripheral edge of acetabular notch. This structure is not that important as a ligament but can often be vitally important as a conduit of a small artery to the head of the femur. This arterial branch is not present in everyone but can become the only blood supply to the bone in the head of the femur when the neck of the femur is fractured or disrupted by injury in childhood.

===Blood supply and nerve supply of the hip joint===

The hip joint is supplied with blood from the [[medial circumflex femoral]] and [[lateral circumflex femoral]] arteries, which are both usually branches of the [[deep artery of the thigh]] (profunda femoris), but may also arise directly from the [[femoral artery]]. There is also a small contribution from a small artery in the ligament of the head of the femur which is a branch of the [[posterior division of the obturator artery]], which becomes important to avoid [[avascular necrosis]] of the [[head of the femur]] when the blood supply from the medial and lateral circumflex arteries are disrupted (e.g. through fracture of the neck of the femur along their course). 

The hip has two anatomically important anastomoses, the cruciate and the trochanteric anastomoses. These exist between the femoral artery or profunda femoris and the gluteal vessels.

The hip joint is supplied by a number of nerves ([[proprioception]], [[Pain and nociception|nociception]], etc...) including the [[femoral nerve]], the [[obturator nerve]], [[superior gluteal nerve]], and the [[nerve to quadratus femoris]].

===Muscles producing movements at the hip joint===
{{main|Muscles of the hip}}

The [[muscles]] that cause movement in the hip can be divided into five groups according to their orientation around the hip joint: 
* the ''extensors group'' includes [[gluteus maximus]] and [[hamstrings]]
* the ''lateral rotator group'' includes [[obturator internus]] and externus, [[gemellus superior]] and inferior, [[quadratus femoris]] and [[piriformis]]
* the ''adductor group'' includes [[pectineus]], [[adductor brevis]], longus and magnus. 
* the ''flexor group'' includes [[iliopsoas]], [[rectus femoris]], [[tensor fascia lata]] and [[sartorius]]
* the ''abductor group'' include [[gluteus medius]] and minimus. 

These muscles produce [[flexion]], [[Extension (kinesiology)|extension]], [[lateral rotation]], [[medial rotation]], [[Abduction (kinesiology)|abduction]], and [[adduction]]. 

Many of the hip muscles are responsible for more than one type of movement in the hip, as different areas of the muscle act on tendons in different ways.

==Sexual dimorphism in humans==

In humans, unlike other animals, the hip bones are substantially different in the two sexes. The hips of human females are broader and deeper than those of males. The femurs are also more widely spaced in females, so as to widen the opening in the hip bone and thus facilitate childbirth. Finally, the ilium and its muscle attachment are shaped so as to situate the buttocks away from the birth canal, where contraction of the buttocks could otherwise damage the baby.



==See also==
*[[Hip examination]]
*[[Hip replacement]]
*[[Snapping hip syndrome|Snapping Hip Syndrome]]
*[[Female body shape]]
*[[Waist-hip ratio|WHR]] (Waist-Hip Ratio)

==Additional images==
<gallery>
 Image:Hueftgelenk-gesund.jpg|Radiograph of a healthy human hip joint
</gallery>

== External links ==
{{wiktionary|hip}}
* [http://www.orthopaedics.com/hips.html#anatomy Hip anatomy video]
* [http://www.aofoundation.org/wps/portal/surgeryskully Hip fractures]

{{Joints of lower limbs}}
{{human anatomical features}}

[[Category:Skeletal system]]
[[Category:Lower limb anatomy]]

[[cs:Kyčelní kloub]]
[[da:Hofte]]
[[de:Hüftgelenk]]
[[es:Cadera]]
[[fr:Hanche]]
[[it:Anca]]
[[he:מפרק הירך]]
[[la:Coxa]]
[[ln:Lokéto]]
[[ja:股関節]]
[[nl:heup]]
[[pl:Staw biodrowy]]
[[fi:Lonkkanivel]]
[[pt:Quadril]]
[[sv:Höft]]
[[ru:Бедро]]
[[tr:Kalça]]
[[tl:Pigi]]

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