The hip capsule
Hip joint capsule and ligaments · capsula articularis coxae
The thickest, strongest joint capsule in the body, holding the thigh bone in the hip socket.
What it does
The hip capsule wraps the ball-and-socket joint of the hip. Three thick ligaments are woven into it, and a rim of cartilage deepens the socket. Inside, a small ligament runs from the socket to the head of the femur, carrying a tiny artery.
Surprising fact
The iliofemoral ligament at the front of the hip is often described as the strongest ligament in the body; it lets you stand upright without using your hip muscles.
Why it matters
The hip's deep socket and strong capsule make dislocation rare, so it usually takes a severe injury such as a car crash to cause one.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.