What is a hip joint?

A joint is a location in the body where two bones connect. Your hip joint connects your femur (thigh bone) to your pelvis (hip bone). After the knee, the hip is one of the biggest joints in your body.

What kind of joint is the hip?

Your hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The femur is a long bone with a rounded tip. The spherical section of your femur fits into a cup-shaped socket in your pelvis known as the acetabulum. This sort of joint allows for a wide range of motion and helps your legs support your body.

How does the hip joint work?

Your hip joint joins your axial skeleton (torso) and lower legs. Your hip joint's function is:

• Provide upper body balance and support.
• Move your upper leg.
• Maintain your body weight.

The ball-and-socket joint allows your upper leg to move at a 3-degree angle, allowing you to do the following movements:

• Flex.
• Extend.
• Rotate.
• Back-and-forth motion.
• Circular motion.