Acetabulum

General What is the acetabulum? AnatomyFunctionsPathologies

Generality

The acetabulum, or cup, is the particular lateral hollow of the iliac bone, designed to house the head of the femur and form, with the latter, the hip.

Resulting from the contribution of the ilium, ischium and pubis - the three bony parts that form the "iliac bone - the" acetabulum is a rather complex skeletal region, in which anatomists identify some fundamental portions, known as: acetabular lip, semilunar face of the " acetabulum, acetabular notch and acetabular fossa.
Like all elements of a bony nature, the acetabulum can be subject to fractures.
Furthermore, it can play a leading role in some hip pathologies, such as coxarthrosis (hip arthrosis) or congenital hip dysplasia.

What is the acetabulum?

The acetabulum is the characteristic hollow of the iliac bone of the pelvis, which serves to house the so-called head of the femur (thigh bone) and to constitute the important joint of the hip (or more simply the hip).
The acetabulum is, therefore, a concave area of ​​the iliac bone, in which the upper portion of the femur takes place - the one previously defined as the head - thus generating the hip.