Hip Anatomy

The hip joint is made up of the femoral head (leg bone) and acetabulum of the pelvis; it is a ball and socket joint. Each bone is covered with articular cartilage which is a smooth surface that protects the bones from injury, acts as a cushion for your joints and allows for smooth motion. The hip joint is encapsulated by a membrane that releases a fluid that helps lubricate the cartilage and reduces friction. Movements of the hip joint include flexion (forwards) and extension (backwards), abduction (moving leg away from body) and adduction (moving leg towards body) and rotation.