Hip Introduction
Bones, Ligaments and Other Structures
-Mr. Brewer
Bones of the Hip
Bones of the Hip
- The Hip joint is
comprised of the
femur distally inserting
into the Pelvis.
- Also the sacrum joins
both pelvic bones to
form the pelvic girdle,
and attaches to the
most distal aspect of
the spine.
Sacrum and Coccyx
• The Sacrum attaches the distal spinal to the hip,
BUT the sacrum is actually comprised of 5 fused
vertebrae.
• The distal aspect of the Sacrum is the Coccyx.
• The Coccyx is also known as your “Tail Bone”
– The Coccyx too is a compilation of 4 more fused
vertebrae.
• Foramen or “holes” in the sacrum are present to
allow nerves and blood vessels to exit and form
all over the lower extremity.
Sacrum and Coccyx
Ilium, Ischium and the Pubis
Ilium
• The Ilium is the largest aspect of the pelvic girdle
and is the most superior of the bones that make
up the pelvic girdle.
• The Ilium is broken down into two portions.
– The Body: The lower part of the Ilium which joins with
both the pubis and ischium to form the acetabulum.
– The “Ala”: Latin for “wing”, the superior and wide
aspect of the Ilium. The Ilium allows for several
insertion points for muscles such as:
• The Gluteals
• IT Band
• 6 Lateral Rotators of the hip
Ilium
- Ilium Landmarks:
- Iliac Crest
- The upper rim or
edge of the ilium.
- Also the insertion
point for a few
- ASIS and PSIS
- Anterior Superior Iliac
Spine & Posterior
Superior Iliac Spine
- Located at both the
most anterior and
posterior portions of
the Iliac Crest.
- AIIS and PIIS
- Anterior inferior iliac
spine & Posterior
inferior iliac spine.
Ischium
- Ischium:
- Broken into 3 parts

- Ischium Landmarks:
- Ischial Tuberosity
- AKA the “Sit Bone”
- The part of your
pelvis that takes the
greatest amount of
force from sitting
down.
Ischial Tuberosity
Pubis
• The Pubis is the final
bone that comes
together to form the
Pelvic Girdle.
• Both the left and
right pubis bones of
each hip are joined
together by a thick
piece of cartilage
known as the pubic
symphysis.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Sacrum
Ilium
Ischium
Pubis
Pubic Symphysis
Acetabulum
Obturator Foreman
Coccyx
Joints
Hip Joint
- The hip joint is the
common term for
the union of the
Femur and the
Pelvis bone.
- The hip joint is the
strongest major
joint in the body
because of the thick
capsular ligaments
and strong
musculature.
Joints
Sacroiliac Joint
SacroIliac Joint
The Sacro-Iliac joint is the name of
the location in which the Sacrum
meets the Ilium.
Imbalances in muscle strength
(Mostly Hamstrings and
Quadriceps) can result in a
SacroIliac condition.
Other Important Landmarks
Acetabulum:
- The acetabulum is made
up of 3 bones joining
together. (Ischium,
Pubis, and Ilium)
- The Acetabulum is “cuplike” in formation and
this allows the head of
the femur to comfortably
fit in and join with the
pelvis to form the hip
joint.

Acetabulum
Acetabulum
• On the surface of the
acetabulum sits the
acetabular labrum.
• Just like the Meniscus of
the knee and the labrum
of the shoulder joint, the
acetabular labrum is a
piece of cartilage that
acts a cushion to absorb
shock and to prevent
bone-to-bone contact.
Acetabulum
The function of the acetabulum and the
acetabular labrum on the head of the Femur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlCvKEOZtp
o
*First 3-4 minutes*
Ligamentum Teres
This ligament is attached at the
fovea capitis of the femur and
inserts itself through the
acetabulum.
The ligamentum teres plays a large
role, especially in development of
younger people such as children
into adolescense.
The ligament is one of the very few
ligaments that have been innovated
with blood flow.
At a young age, this blood flow is
vital for keeping the head of your
femur healthy and supplied with
necessary nutrients.
Ligamentum Teres
A view of the Ligament from inside of the hip.
Other Ligaments
- The hip is held together by some of the strongest
ligaments in the body.
- These ligaments are named for their insertion/origin
points and encapsulate the head of the femur for
additional strength and stability with movement.
Obturator Foramen
- The obturator
foramen is a “hole”
formed by the
ischium and pubis
bones.
- The space is a
“throughway” for
some important
blood vessels, nerves
and other important
structures.
Resource for Personal Use
http://www.healthline.com/human-bodymaps/iliacus-muscle :
- This resource allows you to visualize the layers
of the hip area from muscles, nerves and
blood vessels, down to the bones in isolation.
- *Intended for more of a visual tool*
Review
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