What is the acetabulum?

What is the acetabulum?

• A. A muscle that moves the hip
• B. A large socket in the pelvic bone for the head of the femur
• C. A nerve that supplies the leg
• D. A ligament that stabilizes the knee

Answer: (B)

The acetabulum is the large socket in the pelvic bone that holds the head of the femur, forming the hip joint. It’s created where the three parts of the pelvis—ilium, ischium, and pubis—meet. The surface is covered with cartilage, and a ring of cartilage called the acetabular labrum helps deepen the socket to keep the femoral head stable. This ball-and-socket setup allows the hip to move in many directions while bearing the body's weight. It is not a muscle, nerve, or ligament.

The acetabulum is the large socket in the pelvic bone that holds the head of the femur, forming the hip joint. It’s created where the three parts of the pelvis—ilium, ischium, and pubis—meet. The surface is covered with cartilage, and a ring of cartilage called the acetabular labrum helps deepen the socket to keep the femoral head stable. This ball-and-socket setup allows the hip to move in many directions while bearing the body's weight. It is not a muscle, nerve, or ligament.