Skip to Main Content

Chapter 8: The Hip Joint and Pelvic Girdle

INTRODUCTION

Objectives

  • To identify on a human skeleton or subject selected bony features of the hip joint and pelvic girdle

  • To label on a skeletal chart selected bony features of the hip joint and pelvic girdle

  • To draw on a skeletal chart the individual muscles of the hip joint

  • To demonstrate, using a human subject, all the movements of the hip joint and pelvic girdle and list their respective planes of movement and axes of motion

  • To palpate on a human subject the muscles of the hip joint and pelvic girdle

  • To determine, list, and palpate the muscles of the hip joint and their antagonists and appreciate the role of the ligaments in providing stability

  • To learn and understand the innervation of the hip joint muscles

  • To determine, through analysis, the hip movements and muscles involved in selected skills and exercises

The hip, or acetabular femoral joint, is a relatively stable joint due to its bony architecture, strong ligaments and large supportive muscles. It functions in weight bearing and locomotion, which is enhanced significantly by the hip’s wide range of motion, which provides the ability to run, cross-over cut, side-step cut, jump, and make many other directional changes.

BONES FIGS. 8.1 TO 8.3

FIG. 8.1

Right pelvis and femur, anterior view.

An illustration shows the anterior view of the right pelvis and femur. In the pelvis, the sacrum is at the center, the ilium is on the superior side, and the pubis and ischium are on the inferior side. The superior end of the sacrum is its base and its inferior end is the coccyx. It is at the center of the ilium, connected to it by the sacroiliac joints. The iliac crest and anterior superior iliac spine are on the superior side of the ilium, the iliac fossa is bordered by the anterior superior iliac spine, the anterior inferior iliac spine is on the lateral side, the acetabulum is the notch below the anterior inferior iliac spine, the pectineal line is the medial edge of ilium, and superior pubic ramus, pubic crest, and symphysis pubis are at the inferior end of the ileum. Ischium, consisting of ischial tuberosity at its inferior side and obturator foramen are on either side of the symphysis ramus, under the superior pubic ramus. The femoral head and neck, greater and lesser trochanter, and intertrochanteric line are in the proximal end of the femur, and the adductor tubercle, lateral epicondyle, lateral femoral condyle, patella, and medial femoral condyle are in the distal end. The fibular head is in the proximal end of the fibula, and lateral tibial condyle, Gerdy’s tubercle, medial tibial condyle, and tibial tuberosity are in the proximal end of the tibia.
View Full Size||Download Slide (.ppt)
FIG. 8.2

Right pelvic bone. A, Lateral view; B, Medial view.

A 2-part illustration shows the lateral and medial views of the pubic bone. In both illustrations, the ilium is on the superior side, the ischium is on the posterior inferior side, and the pubis is on the anterior inferior side. Part A: The parts of the ilium from its superior end are the iliac crest, anterior gluteal line, anterior superior iliac spine, posterior gluteal line, inferior gluteal line, posterior superior iliac spine, posterior inferior iliac spine, anterior inferior iliac spine, the body of ilium, and great sciatic notch. The parts of the ischium from its superior end are ischial spine, lesser sciatic notch, body of ischium, ischial tuberosity, and ramus of ischium. The parts of the pubis from its superior end are the superior ramus of the pubis, body of the pubis, and inferior ramus of the pubis. The acetabulum is at the intersection of the three bones and the obturator foramen is enclosed by them. Part B: The parts of the ilium from its superior end are iliac crest, iliac fossa, anterior superior iliac spine, posterior superior iliac spine, auricular surface, posterior inferior iliac spine, arcuate line, anterior inferior iliac spine, and greater sciatic notch. The parts of the ischium from its superior end are the ischial spine and ramus ischium. The parts of the pubis from its superior end are the pectineal line and the location of the pubis symphysis. The Obturator foramen is enclosed by the three bones.
View Full Size||Download Slide (.ppt)
FIG. 8.3

Right pelvis and femur, posterior view.

An illustration shows the posterior view of the right pelvis and femur. In the pelvis, the sacrum is at the center, the ilium is on the superior side, and the pubis and ischium are on the inferior side. The inferior end of the sacrum is the coccyx. It is at the center of the ilium, connected to it by the sacroiliac joints. The iliac crest along the superior border of the ilium, posterior superior iliac spine, posterior-anterior iliac spine, the spine of ischium, and greater and lesser sciatic notch are in the medial side of one half of the pelvis. Ischial tuberosity of ischium is at the inferior end. The femur is attached to the pelvis. Greater and lesser trochanter, intertrochanteric crest, pectineal line, gluteal tuberosity, and medial and lateral lips of linea aspera are in the proximal end of the femur and lateral condyloid ridge, adductor tubercle, medial condyloid ridge, and medial and lateral condyles of the femur are at the distal end. Lateral and medial tibial condyles are in the proximal end of the tibia.
View Full Size||Download Slide (.ppt)

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that consists of the head of the femur connecting with the acetabulum of the pelvic girdle. The femur projects out laterally from its head toward the greater trochanter and then angles back toward the midline as it runs inferiorly to form the proximal bone of the knee. It is the longest bone in the body. The pelvic girdle consists of a right and left pelvic bone joined together posteriorly by the sacrum. The sacrum, with five fused vertebrae, may be considered a base for the 24 movable vertebrae above. Extending inferior from the sacrum is the coccyx. The pelvic bones are made up of three bones: the ilium, the ischium, and the pubis. At birth and during growth and development, there are three distinct bones. At maturity, they are fused to form one pelvic bone known as the os coxae, coxal, or innominate bone.

The pelvic bone can be divided roughly into three areas, starting from the acetabulum:

  • Upper two-fifths = ilium

  • Posterior and lower two-fifths = ischium

  • Anterior and lower one-fifth = pubis

In studying the muscles of the hip and thigh, it is helpful to focus on the important bony landmarks, keeping ...

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.

This site uses cookies to provide, maintain and improve your experience. MH Privacy Center Close