[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/) › Acetabular cartilage [Skeletal system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/skeletal-system/) · [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/) # Acetabular cartilage The acetabular cartilage is the smooth, horseshoe-shaped lining of the hip socket, thickest at the roof where weight is borne. Official name: Articular cartilage of acetabulum [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=lower_limb&select=cartilage_acetabulum&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is Articular cartilage lining the hip socket. It is horseshoe-shaped, with a bare area in the middle filled by fat and the [ligament of the femoral head](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ligament-of-head-of-femur/). ## What it does Gives the ball a smooth surface to glide on and spreads the body's weight across the socket. ## Key points - Thickest at the roof (superior dome), the main weight-bearing zone - Cam impingement shears the anterosuperior cartilage off the bone from the rim inwards (outside-in delamination, the carpet lesion) - In dysplasia the shallow roof concentrates load on the rim, so rim cartilage and the labrum fail early ## Key facts **Where** Horseshoe-shaped [lunate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lunate/) surface of acetabulum; acetabular fossa and notch have none (fat pad, ligament of head) **Function** Hyaline articular cartilage; low-friction gliding; spreads load; avascular, nourished by synovial fluid ## Relations **Lateral** [Femoral head cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-femoral-head/) across the joint; the [labrum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/glenoid-labrum/) continues the rim beyond the cartilage edge **Medial** Acetabular fossa, free of cartilage, with its fat pad and the ligament of the head; the quadrilateral plate beyond **Below** Acetabular notch, where the horseshoe opens, bridged by the [transverse acetabular ligament](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/transverse-acetabular-ligament/) **Deep** Subchondral bone of the roof, seen on X-ray as the dense sourcil ## How to find it Not palpable. At arthroscopy the central compartment is opened with traction and the cartilage is mapped by clock-face zones; the anterosuperior zone is damaged most often. ## On imaging AP [pelvis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/): joint-space width at the roof, sourcil slope (Tönnis angle) and centre-edge angle for dysplasia. Judet views or CT for acetabular fractures; MR arthrography or cartilage mapping for delamination. ## Common problems - Hip osteoarthritis: gradual wear of the cartilage, causing groin or thigh pain, stiffness and a limp. - Cartilage damage from hip impingement, dysplasia or injury. - Avascular necrosis: loss of blood supply to the femoral head, which can make the bone and its cartilage collapse. ## How it is diagnosed Symptoms and exam (painful, limited inward turning of the hip); X-rays show joint-space narrowing and bone spurs; MRI shows early cartilage damage or avascular necrosis. ## Treatment - Physical therapy, weight management, a cane and activity changes; medicines or injections for pain. - Hip arthroscopy for selected cartilage or labrum problems in younger hips without advanced arthritis. - Total hip replacement for advanced arthritis: the worn ball and socket are replaced with artificial parts. ## Clinical notes - Periacetabular (Ganz) osteotomy reorients the socket in dysplasia before arthritis sets in - A step in the roof after an acetabular fracture leads to post-traumatic arthritis - Protrusio acetabuli: the femoral head bulges medial to the ilioischial line, seen in rheumatoid arthritis and some connective tissue disorders ## Development The ilium, ischium and pubis meet in the socket at a Y-shaped (triradiate) cartilage, which closes in the teens (texts differ on the age). Injury to this cartilage in a child can stop the socket from deepening and leave a shallow, dysplastic acetabulum. ## Related conditions - [Hip Osteoarthritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/hip-osteoarthritis/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What shape is the acetabular cartilage, and which part has none? Horseshoe-shaped (lunate surface); the acetabular fossa and notch have none, holding a fat pad and the ligament of the head. ## Where is the acetabular cartilage thickest? At the roof (superior dome), the main weight-bearing zone. ## Why does acetabular dysplasia damage the rim cartilage early? The shallow roof concentrates load on the rim, so rim cartilage and the labrum fail early. [Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-acetabulum/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** cartilago articularis TA2 382 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Cartílago articular del acetábulo DeCS D002358 **English (TA2)** Articular cartilage of acetabulum ## Related - [Hip bone](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hip-bone/) - [Femoral head cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-femoral-head/) - [Acetabular labrum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/acetabular-labrum/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=2401&filter=ths_termall&q=Cart%C3%ADlago%20Articular); [Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Hip Joint](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470555/); [8.3 The Pelvic Girdle and Pelvis](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/8-3-the-pelvic-girdle-and-pelvis) (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-acetabulum/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-acetabulum/