What is the acetabulum?

What is an acetabulum? The hip is one of the body’s largest joints. It is a “ball-and-socket” joint. The socket is formed by the acetabulum, which is part of the pelvis. The ball is the femoral head, which is the upper end of the femur (thighbone).

What is hip labrum called?

This tough, crescent-shaped cartilage structure lines the rim of the hip socket (called the acetabulum), which is located in the pelvic bone. Also known as the acetabular labrum, this should not be confused with the labrum of the shoulder, which is a similar structure called the glenoid labrum.

What is the function of the acetabular labrum?

A key role of the acetabular labrum is the seal it provides around the femoral head, thereby permitting the formation of a pressurised layer of intra-articular fluid to both distribute and support compressive loads, subsequently reducing cartilage stress, strain and consolidation.

What is a labrum femur?

The labrum helps the femoral head move smoothly within the socket. It lets your hip move without problems or pain. It also serves as a seal, keeping the ball and socket together but not touching.

Why is it called acetabulum?

History. The word acetabulum literally means “little vinegar cup”. It was the Latin word for a small vessel for serving vinegar.

Why is the acetabulum important?

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint; the round head of the femur rests in a cavity (the acetabulum) that allows free rotation of the limb.

How serious is a labral tear in the hip?

A tear in your labrum can cause pain and instability in your hip, damage other tissue and cartilage in your joint, and lead to osteoarthritis over time.

How painful is a labral tear in the hip?

A tear to the labrum can cause pain in the front of the hip, in the groin or side of the hip. The pain usually worsens with walking, pivoting or impact activities such as running. The pain also occurs at night and can be associated with clicking, catching or locking.

Can you heal a labral tear without surgery?

Simply put, a hip labral tear will not heal without surgical treatment. However, many less severe hip labral tears can be managed for years, sometimes even indefinitely, with nonsurgical treatment.

Is acetabulum a bone?

The acetabulum is the deep, cup-shaped structure that encloses the head of the femur at the hip joint (Fig. 9.4). It is interesting to note that the acetabulum is formed by a combination of all three bones of the pelvis: the ilium, pubis, and ischium.