Anatomy of The Hip

Your hip joint is integral in keeping your body in motion. But when that joint causes you pain, everything you do suffers…playing sports, working in the yard, even the simple act of walking. Our goal at Sugar Land
Orthopedic Institute is to ease your suffering from hip pain and get you back to your normal daily routine. To that end, we offer the most technologically advanced facilities in a relaxing atmosphere of caring, comfort and complete understanding. We provide state-of-the-art care for tears and soft tissue injuries as well as bony problems. Using the most modern technology and surgical techniques, which allow for more rapid recovery and longer lasting joint function, the physicians at Sugar Land
Orthopedic Institute are able to restore the joy of movement and truly revitalize lives.

The pelvis is a ring-like structure of bones at the lower end of the trunk. The two sides of the pelvis are actually three bones (ilium, ischium, and pubis) that grow together as people age. Strong connective tissues (ligaments) join the pelvis to the large triangular bone (sacrum) at the base of the spine. This creates a bowl-like cavity below the rib cage. On each side, there is a hollow cup (acetabulum) that serves as the socket for the hip joint.

Many digestive and reproductive organs are located within the pelvic ring. Large nerves and blood vessels that go to the legs pass through it. The pelvis serves as an attachment point for muscles that reach down into the legs and up into the trunk of the body. With all of these vital structures running through the pelvis, a pelvic fracture can be associated with substantial bleeding, nerve injury, and internal organ damage.

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the head of the femur articulates with the cuplike acetabulum of the pelvic bone.

The head of the femur and the socket are covered with a layer of smooth cartilage which cushions the joint, and allows the bones to move on each other with very little friction.