Hip Bones Of A Human Male Afflicted With Hip Dysplasia, Anterior View

Description

Shown from the anterior aspect, the male pelvic girdle is centered on the paired os coxae with the iliac crests superiorly and the pubic bodies meeting medially at the pubic symphysis. Each acetabulum is seen lateral to the obturator foramen, with the femoral head and neck positioned inferolateral to the iliac wing and continuous distally with the proximal femoral shaft. The sacrum sits posterior and medial between the iliac bones at the sacroiliac joints, and the lower lumbar vertebrae appear superior to the sacral promontory. Hip dysplasia is conveyed by a shallow, undercovered acetabulum in which the anterosuperior acetabular rim provides reduced containment of the femoral head, predisposing to superolateral migration and edge loading during stance and gait. This morphology drives early labral injury and accelerates anterosuperior cartilage wear, a common pathway to secondary osteoarthritis and groin pain in young adults. An anterior view is also the practical orientation for teaching acetabular version and anterior coverage, concepts that translate directly to radiographic assessment on an AP pelvis and false profile views. Use this illustration in musculoskeletal anatomy and orthopedics teaching to contrast normal hip congruence with dysplastic acetabular geometry, or in review articles and patient education on developmental dysplasia of the hip and adult hip preservation. It also supports surgical discussions of periacetabular osteotomy planning by clarifying how reorientation aims to increase femoral head coverage without altering femoral anatomy. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.