Femoral head
Also called: ball of hip joint
What it means
The femoral head is the rounded, ball-shaped top of the thighbone (femur) that fits into the hip socket to form the hip joint.
This area bears a lot of your body's weight, so its bone strength and blood supply matter a lot for avoiding hip fractures as you age.
The femoral head is covered in articular cartilage, a smooth, cushioning surface that lets it glide inside the hip socket (acetabulum) with minimal friction. Underneath the cartilage is subchondral bone, then a mix of cortical and trabecular bone that gives the head its strength and shock-absorbing structure. A short, angled segment called the femoral neck connects the femoral head to the rest of the femur.
Because the femoral head sits at the top of a long lever arm, it carries significant load during standing, walking, and daily movement. Its blood supply travels through the femoral neck, which is one reason a hip fracture or dislocation in this area can sometimes disrupt circulation and lead to avascular necrosis, a condition where bone tissue dies from lack of blood flow.
Doctors evaluate this region during a DEXA scan, since hip bone mineral density (including the femoral neck) is one of the standard sites used to assess osteoporosis risk and guide a T-score result. If a fracture ever happens here, treatment options range from pinning to partial or full hip replacement, decided by an orthopedic surgeon based on the fracture pattern and the person's overall health.
The femoral head bears a lot of body weight, so its strength and blood supply matter for avoiding hip fractures.
Where this leads
WordRight next to the femoral head sits another key spot. Find out why the femoral neck is actually the most common site for hip fractures.
Related words
The femoral neck is the angled part of bone joining your hip ball to your thigh bone shaft, and it's the most common…
The hip joint is the ball-and-socket joint where the thigh bone meets the pelvis, letting the leg move freely while…
A hip fracture is a break at the femoral neck, the narrow part of bone connecting the hip joint ball to the thigh…
Avascular necrosis is when part of a bone dies because it loses its blood supply, which can weaken and eventually…
A DEXA scan is a low-radiation X-ray test that measures how much mineral is in your hip and spine bones, giving you…
A hip replacement is surgery to remove a damaged hip joint and replace it with an artificial implant, often done for…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
