Attached from fovea capitis to transverse ligament and acetabular notch
Intracapsular but extrasynovial
Role is unclear but believed to provide passage for nutrient artery to head of femur
Ligaments - Extracapsular
3 key ligaments to provide stability - all form thickenings in the capsule
Anteriorly:
Iliofemoral - Y shaped structure from AIIS to upper and lower parts of intertrochanteric line (weakest centrally)
Pubofemoral - from iliopubic eminence and superior pubic ramus to join with lower part of iliofemoral ligament
Both limit extension & lateral rotation
Ischiofemoral Ligament:
Situated posteriorly
Spirals over the neck of the femur running with oblique fibres of capsule
Attached to body of ischium, spirals over NoF to insert into the root of the greater trochanter
Limits extension and medial rotation
Surface Markings
Anteriorly
A line (concave inferiorly) passing through a point 1½cm below the middle of the inguinal ligament (ASIS to Pubic Tubercle)
Laterally
A line passing through the apex of the greater trochanter (concave inferiorly)
Ligaments
Iliofemoral – from AIIS (2 cm below and 2cm medial to ASIS) to intertrochanteric line (greater trochanter to tendon of adductor longus)
Pubofemoral – from superior pubic ramus to lower ½ of iliofemoral ligament
Both ligaments will cross the surface marking of the hip joint anteriorly
Movements at the Hip Joint
When assessing the end of a joint range of motion each movement should have a specific end feel – soft tissue apposition, bony apposition, ligamentous tension, muscular tension
Multiaxial joint therefore movements are possible in all 3 planes
Flexion - (120∞) - limited by soft tissue apposition
Extension - (25∞) - limited by tension in the extracapsular ligaments and hip flexors
When assessing the end of a joint range of motion each movement should have a specific end feel – soft tissue apposition, bony apposition, ligamentous tension, muscular tension
Multiaxial joint therefore movements are possible in all 3 planes
Flexion - (120∞) - limited by soft tissue apposition
Extension - (25∞) - limited by tension in the extracapsular ligaments and hip flexors
Abduction - (45∞) - limited by tension in adductors, inferior part of iliofemoral ligament and capsule and pubofemoral ligament
Adduction - (45∞) - limited by soft tissue apposition
Medial Rotation - (30∞) - limited by tension in ischiofemoral ligament and posterior capsule and lateral rotators
Lateral Rotation - (60∞) - limited by ilio and pubofemoral ligaments, anterior capsule and medial rotators
