Which term describes the socket of the hip joint?

Which term describes the socket of the hip joint?

• A. Ilium
• B. Acetabulum
• C. Sacrum
• D. Patella

Answer: (B)

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, and its socket is the acetabulum. The acetabulum is a cup-shaped cavity on the pelvis that receives the head of the femur, forming the hip joint and allowing a wide range of motion. It’s formed by parts of three pelvic bones—the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The other structures listed are not the socket: the ilium is the upper part of the pelvis, the sacrum is the fused lower spine forming the back of the pelvis, and the patella is the kneecap.

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, and its socket is the acetabulum. The acetabulum is a cup-shaped cavity on the pelvis that receives the head of the femur, forming the hip joint and allowing a wide range of motion. It’s formed by parts of three pelvic bones—the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The other structures listed are not the socket: the ilium is the upper part of the pelvis, the sacrum is the fused lower spine forming the back of the pelvis, and the patella is the kneecap.