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Bettesworth Construction
anatomy

One Hip Joint: Where It Is, What It Does, and How It Moves

The hip joint connects the femoral head to the acetabulum in the pelvis, supporting body weight while allowing the upper leg to move.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read

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A hip joint is the ball-and-socket connection between the head of the thigh bone (femur) and a socket in the pelvis called the acetabulum. It supports and transfers body weight while allowing the upper leg to move in several directions. Most people have two hip joints—one on each side of the body.

What is one hip joint?

The anatomical name for the hip joint is the acetabulofemoral joint. Its ball is the rounded femoral head at the top of the thigh bone; its socket, the acetabulum, is part of the pelvis. The ball fits into the socket, making the hip a ball-and-socket joint. Cleveland Clinic describes the joint’s anatomy and function; an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons overview of hip arthroscopy also explains the joint surfaces and supporting tissues.

Where is the hip joint?

The joint sits where the upper end of the femur meets the pelvis, on either side of the body. People usually use “hip” to refer to the broader area around the joint, but the hip joint itself is specifically the femur–pelvis articulation. The MedlinePlus normal hip joint anatomy reference identifies the femoral head and acetabulum.

What does the hip joint do?

The hip must balance stability and mobility. It supports and transfers body weight, helps maintain balance, and lets the upper leg move for everyday actions such as walking, sitting, and turning. Cleveland Clinic describes these weight-bearing and movement functions.

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How does the hip joint move?

The hip is multiaxial, meaning it can move in several directions. Its main movement pairs are:

  • Flexion and extension: moving the thigh forward and backward.
  • Abduction and adduction: moving the leg away from and back toward the body’s midline.
  • Internal and external rotation: turning the thigh inward and outward.

These movements are coordinated by the hip’s shape and surrounding muscles and tendons. The NCBI Bookshelf chapter on hip joint anatomy describes movement around three axes.

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What structures help keep the hip stable?

Articular cartilage covers the contacting bone surfaces and supports smooth movement. A fibrocartilaginous rim called the acetabular labrum surrounds the socket. Along with the joint capsule and ligaments, it helps stabilize the ball within the socket. Muscles and tendons around the joint help move and support it. The AAOS hip arthroscopy overview describes the cartilage, labrum, capsule, and ligaments.

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Does pain near the hip always come from the joint?

No. “Hip pain” describes where discomfort is felt, not its cause. Pain may come from structures within the joint or nearby areas, and it can be felt in the groin, thigh, or even the knee. Persistent, worsening, or movement-limiting pain merits clinical assessment; an anatomy explanation cannot identify its cause. See MedlinePlus information on hip pain.

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