Hip Anatomy

Learn how your hips, bones, cartilage and ligaments all work together.

Hip

Your hip joint is one of the most important joints in your body. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, uniting the femur (thigh bone) with the pelvis. Designed for both mobility and stability, the hip allows the entire lower extremity to move in three planes of motion, while providing an important shock absorption function to the torso and upper body. 

Bones

Your pelvis features two cup-shaped depressions called the acetabulum, one on either side of the body. The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest bone in your body and connects to your pelvis at the hip joint. The head of the femur, shaped like a ball, fits tightly into the acetabulum, forming the ball and socket joint of the hip.

Cartilage

Embedded within the acetabulum of your pelvis is articular cartilage. This cartilage has two very important functions. First, the smooth, low-friction surface of the cartilage allows your hip joint to move freely in all planes of movement. Second, the articular cartilage cushions your hip during weight-bearing activities, acting as a “shock absorber” to your lower body.

Ligaments

Your hip joint also features a complex system of ligaments that provide stability for your pelvis and legs. The ligaments of the hip joint connect the femur to the pelvis and are vital to keep your hip from moving outside of its normal areas of movement.

Muscles

Your hip joint muscles provide the dynamic functions needed to raise and lower your legs, as well as the stabilizing functions required to stand, walk or do other weight-bearing exercises. 

When the hip joint starts to hurt

Feeling the symptoms of hip arthritis, or have you experienced a hip injury? Learn more about what can go wrong with the hip and the different kinds of treatments for hip pain.