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.

* * *

A cup-shaped depression on the external surface of the hip bone, with which the head of the femur articulates. SYN: cotyle (2), cotyloid cavity. [L. a shallow vinegar vessel or cup]

* * *

ac·e·tab·u·lum -'tab-yə-ləm n, pl -lums or -la -lə

1) the cup-shaped socket in the hip bone

2) a sucker of an invertebrate (as a trematode or leech)

ac·e·tab·u·lar -lər adj

* * *

(cotyloid cavity)

n.

either of the two deep sockets, one on each side of the hip bone, into which the head of the thigh bone (femur) fits at the hip joint.

* * *

ac·e·tab·u·lum (as″ə-tabґu-ləm) pl. acetabґula [L. “vinegar-cruet,” from acetum vinegar] [TA] the large cup-shaped cavity on the lateral surface of the os coxae in which the head of the femur articulates; called also acetabular bone, cotyloid cavity, and os acetabuli. acetabular adj

Acetabulum.