Morphometric Study of the Acetabulum of Human Dry Adult Hip Bones: An Institutional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The hip bones, also known as the os coxae, are a pair that together constitute the majority of the pelvic girdle. The hip bone is formed by the fusion of three bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis. One component of the hip bone is the acetabulum, which resembles a deep cup located on the lateral side of the hip bone. The acetabulum is divided into two sections: the articular and non-articular parts. The non-articular section is covered by a layer of fat. The articular part of the acetabulum connects with the head of the femur, forming the most stable joint in the body, known as the hip joint. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in the Department of Anatomy at Government Medical College, Srinagar, J&K. A total of 60 dry adult human hip bones of unspecified sex were studied. The following parameters were assessed: the shape of the acetabulum (curved, angular, irregular, or straight); the transverse diameter; the vertical diameter; the total diameter (mean of transverse and vertical); and the depth of the acetabulum. Observations: The mean transverse diameter of the acetabulum on the left side was 3.520 cm (35.2 mm), while on the right side it measured 3.550 cm (35.5 mm). The mean total diameter was 3.758 cm on the left side and 3.745 cm on the right side. The mean depth of the acetabulum was 3.130 cm (31.3 mm) on the right side and 3.053 cm (30.5 mm) on the left side. Conclusion: Understanding the dimensions of the acetabulum will assist and enhance the development of prostheses by biomedical engineers. Additionally, this research will aid in the reconstruction of the acetabulum during orthopaedic surgery by providing average measurements.

Keywords: Acetabulum; Hip Bone; Morphometry; Morphometric Study; Acetabular Diameter; Acetabular Depth; Hip Joint; Osteology; Orthopaedic Surgery; Kashmiri Population.