The word "hip joint" refers to the ball-and-socket joint between the thigh bone (femur) and the pelvis. It is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /hɪp dʒɔɪnt/. The first sound, /h/, is a voiceless glottal fricative, followed by the vowel /ɪ/ as in "hit". The second sound is a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/, followed by the open-mid back rounded vowel /ɔ/ as in "hot". The word concludes with the alveolar nasal /n/ and the voiceless alveolar plosive /t/.
The hip joint is a specialized synovial joint, also known as the coxal joint, which connects the femur bone, the longest bone in the body, to the pelvic bone. It is a ball-and-socket joint characterized by its remarkable stability and flexibility, allowing for various movements including rotation, flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.
Anatomically, the hip joint consists of two primary components: the acetabulum, a concave socket located in the pelvic bone, and the femoral head, a rounded bony part situated at the upper end of the femur. These structures are surrounded by a strong fibrous joint capsule, which provides stability to the joint. Moreover, the joint is supported by several ligaments, including the iliofemoral, pubofemoral, and ischiofemoral ligaments, which prevent excessive movement of the hip joint.
The hip joint is highly important for various activities like walking, running, and other weight-bearing movements. It bears a substantial amount of body weight and provides stability to the lower limbs. Moreover, it facilitates the smooth transmission of forces generated by physical activities throughout the body. However, due to its constant use and complex structure, it is susceptible to injuries or conditions such as hip bursitis, osteoarthritis, and femoroacetabular impingement.
In conclusion, the hip joint is a pivotal synovial joint connecting the femur and the pelvic bone. Its ball-and-socket structure and associated ligaments provide stability and allow for a wide range of movements. It plays a crucial role in weight-bearing activities and is prone to various injuries or degenerative conditions.
• Articulatio coxae, coxa, articulation between the femur and the innominate bone.
• Articulatio coxae.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "hip joint" has its origins in Middle English, deriving from the Old English word "heope" or "heope-wyrt", which meant "hip, haunch, or loin". This Old English term was related to the Dutch word "heup", German word "Hüfte", and Old Norse word "huppr", all carrying similar meanings. The word "joint" comes from Old French "joint", which in turn traces back to the Latin word "junctus", meaning "joined" or "united". Therefore, the etymology of "hip joint" combines Old English and Latin roots to describe the articulation of the hip bones.