HIP JOINT 325 



Dissection. At the end of the fifth day after the subject 

 has been placed upon its face, the dissector must paint the various 

 parts in the gluteal and thigh regions with the preservative 

 solution, replace them in position, and fix the skin flaps over 

 them with a few points of suture. On the morning of the follow- 

 ing day he will find the body replaced upon its back, with the 

 pelvis and thorax supported by blocks, and he must at once 

 proceed to study any part of the medial region of the thigh 

 previously left undissected, and to examine the hip joint. 



Articulatio Coxae (Hip Joint). The hip joint is the most 

 perfect example of an enarthrosis or ball-and-socket joint in 

 the body. It does not allow so free a range of movement 

 as that which takes place at the shoulder joint, but what 

 it loses in this respect it gains in strength and stability. Its 

 great strength and security depend (i) upon the depth of 

 the acetabulum and the thorough manner in which the head 

 of the femur is received into it; (2) upon the tension and 

 power of the ligaments; (3) upon the length and oblique 

 direction of the neck of the femur; (4) upon atmospheric 

 pressure and upon the strength of the surrounding muscles. 



The ligaments in connection with the hip joint are : 



1. Capsula articularis. 



Lig. ilio-femorale. 

 Lig. ischio-capsulare. 

 Lig. pubo-capsulare. 



2. Ligamentum teres. 



3. Labrum glenoidale. 



4. Lig. transversum acetabuli. 



The capsule and the ligamentum teres are attached 

 to both bones entering into the construction of the joint. 

 The transverse ligament and the labrum glenoidale are 

 connected with the hip bone only; the former partially 

 fills the acetabular notch, whilst the latter surrounds the cir- 

 cumference of the acetabulum in a ring-like fashion, and serves 

 to deepen it still further. 



Capsula Articularis. The fibrous stratum of the articular 

 capsule is exceedingly strong, and surrounds the joint on all 

 sides. Proximally^ it is attached around the acetabulum ; above 

 and posteriorly, directly to the hip bone, just beyond the rim of 

 the cavity ; anteriorly, to the superficial aspect of the labrum 

 glenoidale ; and below, to the transverse ligament. Distally, 

 it clasps the neck of the femur; anteriorly, it is attached 

 to the whole length of the intertrochanteric line, and to the 

 root of the greater trochanter ; this attachment is very firm 

 and strong ; posteriorly, it falls short of the intertrochanteric 



