Acetabulum Of The Hip Bone, Lateral View

Description

Acetabulum dominates the lateral aspect of the os coxae, with its circular rim forming the bony socket for the femoral head at the junction of the ilium (superior), ischium (posteroinferior), and pubis (anteroinferior). From this fixed lateral perspective, the acetabular lunate surface lines the articular horseshoe, while the central acetabular fossa sits deeper and nonarticular, bounded inferiorly by the acetabular notch. The anterior and posterior margins of the rim can be appreciated as separate columns, with the anterior wall trending anteromedially and the posterior wall projecting posterolaterally. Orientation is intuitive. Orthopaedic decision-making often turns on subtle rim and wall morphology, and a lateral view highlights where the posterior wall overhangs the femoral head and where the anterior wall is relatively deficient. Posterior wall fractures after dashboard injury and posterior hip dislocation patterns relate directly to this relationship, while pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement correlates with rim overcoverage and local prominence along the acetabular margin. For arthroplasty teaching, the image helps clarify where the acetabular component must seat relative to the bony rim and notch, and why malposition can contribute to instability or iliopsoas impingement at the anterior rim. Bone landmarks read cleanly without soft-tissue distraction. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and musculoskeletal anatomy courses when teaching the hip joint, in orthopaedic trauma and arthroplasty manuals to accompany acetabular column and wall discussions, and in radiology education when correlating pelvic oblique views and CT reconstructions with the actual rim, fossa, and notch. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.