Capsule of hip joint
Encyclopedia
The articular capsule is strong and dense.

Above, it is attached to the margin of the acetabulum
Acetabulum
The acetabulum is a concave surface of the pelvis. The head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint.-Structure:...

 5 to 6 mm. beyond the labrum behind; but in front, it is attached to the outer margin of the labrum, and, opposite to the notch where the margin of the cavity is deficient, it is connected to the transverse ligament
Transverse ligament
Transverse ligament can refer to:* Superior transverse ligament of the scapula* Transverse ligament of the atlas* Transverse ligament of the acetabular notch* Transverse ligament of knee...

, and by a few fibers to the edge of the obturator foramen
Obturator foramen
The obturator foramen is the hole created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis through which nerves and muscles pass.- General structure :...

.

It surrounds the neck of the femur, and is attached, in front, to the intertrochanteric line; above, to the base of the neck; behind, to the neck, about 1.25 cm. above the intertrochanteric crest
Intertrochanteric crest
The intertrochanteric crest is a bony ridge located on the posterior side of the head of the femur, stretching obliquely downward and medially from the summit of the greater trochanter to the lesser trochanter....

; below, to the lower part of the neck, close to the lesser trochanter.

From its femoral attachment some of the fibers are reflected upward along the neck as longitudinal bands, termed retinacula.

The capsule is much thicker at the upper and forepart of the joint, where the greatest amount of resistance is required; behind and below, it is thin and loose.

It consists of two sets of fibers, circular and longitudinal.

The circular fibers, zona orbicularis
Zona orbicularis
The zona orbicularis or annular ligament is a ligament on the neck of the femur formed by the circular fibers of the articular capsule of the hip joint...

, are most abundant at the lower and back part of the capsule, and form a sling or collar around the neck of the femur
Femur
The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...

.

Anteriorly they blend with the deep surface of the iliofemoral ligament
Iliofemoral ligament
The iliofemoral ligament is a ligament of the hip joint which extends from the ilium to the femur in front of the joint. It is also referred to as the Y-ligament or the ligament of Bigelow, and any combinations of these names....

, and gain an attachment to the anterior inferior iliac spine.

The longitudinal fibers are greatest in amount at the upper and front part of the capsule, where they are reinforced by distinct bands, or accessory ligaments, of which the most important is the iliofemoral ligament
Iliofemoral ligament
The iliofemoral ligament is a ligament of the hip joint which extends from the ilium to the femur in front of the joint. It is also referred to as the Y-ligament or the ligament of Bigelow, and any combinations of these names....

.

The other accessory bands are known as the pubocapsular and the ischiocapsular ligaments.

The external surface of the capsule is rough, covered by numerous muscles, and separated in front from the Psoas major and Iliacus by a bursa, which not infrequently communicates by a circular aperture with the cavity of the joint.
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