Acetabulum: The cup-shaped socket of the hip joint. In fact, in Latin an "acetabulum" is cup, a vinegar cup. The acetabulum is a feature of the pelvis. The head (upper end) of the femur (the thighbone) fits into the acetabulum and articulates with it, forming a ball-and-socket joint.
n. , pl. , -la ( -lÉ™ ). Anatomy . The cup-shaped cavity at the base of the hipbone into which the ball-shaped head of the femur fits. Zoology . The cavity in the ...
ac·e·tab·u·lum (s-t b y-l m) n. pl. ac·e·tab·u·la (-l) 1. Anatomy The cup-shaped cavity at the base of the hipbone into which the ball-shaped head of the ...
acetabulum /ac·e·tab·u·lum/ (as″ĕ-tab´u-lum) pl. aceta´bula [L.] the cup-shaped cavity on the lateral surface of the hip bone, receiving the head of the femur.
–noun, plural -la / -lə / show +spelled">Show Spelled
Most acetabular fractures occur in the setting of significant trauma secondary to either a motor vehicle accident or a high-velocity fall.