Applied Anatomy of the Hip RICARDO A
Applied Anatomy of the Hip RICARDO A. FERNANDEZ, MHS, PT, OCS, CSCS • Northwestern University The hip joint is more than just a ball-and- bones fuse in adults to form the easily recog- socket joint. It supports the weight of the nized “hip” bone. The pelvis, meaning bowl head, arms, and trunk, and it is the primary in Latin, is composed of three structures: the joint that distributes the forces between the innominates, the sacrum, and the coccyx pelvis and lower extremities.1 This joint is (Figure 1). formed from the articu- The ilium has a large flare, or iliac crest, Key PointsPoints lation of the proximal superiorly, with the easily palpable anterior femur with the innomi- superior iliac spine (ASIS) anterior with the The hip joint is structurally composed of nate at the acetabulum. anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) just inferior strong ligamentous and capsular compo- The joint is considered to it. Posteriorly, the crest of the ilium ends nents. important because it to form the posterior superior iliac spine can affect the spine and (PSIS). With respect to surface anatomy, Postural alignment of the bones and joints pelvis proximally and the PSIS is often marked as a dimple in the of the hip plays a role in determining the femur and patella skin. Clinicians attempting to identify pelvic functional gait patterns and forces associ- distally. The biomechan- or hip subluxations, leg-length discrepancies, ated with various supporting structures. ics of this joint are often or postural faults during examinations use There is a relationship between the hip misunderstood, and the these landmarks.
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