Anatomy and Physiology Pertaining to Degenerative Joint Disease, Case Study Example

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is also referred to as osteoarthritis. The characteristic features relate to mechanical abnormalities affecting any joint in the body. This case study will examine the structure and function of the hip joint(John, 2014).

Hip Joint anatomy (Structure)

From a scientific perspective the hip joint is also called acetabulofemoral joint or art Coxae. This has so been classified due to its positon between the femur and acetabulum. Precisely, the joint is located in the human pelvic region. There are eight main anatomical regions in the hip joint structure. They consist of the region location itself, articulation features, angular mechanisms; femoral neck angle; capsule ligaments; blood supply and muscle movements (Clemente, 2006).

The region locationpertains to five tubercles found within the lower lateral borders of thesacrum, and ischial tuberosity.Significantly the hip joint is very difficult to palpate because it is covered bydense fibrous. As such, the greater trochanter is the palpation point and not the muscle itself.Articulation features consist of synovial joint, head of the femur, cup-like acetabulum, axial skeleton,ilium, pubis, and hyaline cartilage.Angular mechanisms consist ofthe transverse angle of the acetabular inlet or sharp angle;sagittal angle of the acetabular inlet;Wiberg’scentre-edge angle;vertical-centre-anterior margin angleandthe articular cartilage angle (Clemente, 2006).

The femoral neck angle is also called thecaput-collum-diaphyseal angle (CCD) measuring an estimated 150° in newborn and 126° in adults. It is locatedthe longitudinal axes of the femoral shaft and neck.Capsulerefers to circular and longitudinal fibers while ligaments are the extracapsular  iliofemoral, ischiofemoral, and pubofemoral ligaments. Bloodsupply is provided through medial circumflex femoral and lateral circumflex femoral arteries.Muscle movementsare conducted through the hip joint articulation with three mutually perpendicular axes.

Hip joint physiology(Function)

Major functions of the hip joint include articulation apart from support,being asegment of the skeletal system. The synovial joint movement is initiated by articulation with the head of the femur. Subsequent movements are continued through locomotion with the cup like acetabulum. Hyaline cartilage covering bone surfaces facilitates movements since they provide release from friction through a smooth jelly-like substance covering the rotation surface.  Theacetabular labrum is a ring-shaped fibrocartilaginous lip. This fibrous tissue allows extension for outward flexion beyond the equator level (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014).

Importantly, the two major functions of articulation and supporting bodyweight are compromised in disease states. The significance of support lies in allowing the body to stand firm when static. The pelvis is responsible for maintaining posture along with the hip joint firmness. Whenstanding the pelvis conducts specific dynamics correlating, muscle, joint and bone in producing walking, running squatting and stooping among many changes in body positing. hip joints paly a meaningful role in maintaining balance, especially, by sustaining the  inclination angle of  pelvic plane (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014).

References

Clemente, D. (2006). Clemente’s Anatomy Dissector. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Hinkle J.L., & Cheever K. (2014) Brunner &Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (13th ed). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa

John, T. (2010).Degenerative Joint Disease Symptoms. Retrieved on September 24th, 2014 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/113778-degenerative-joint-disease-symptoms/

Porter, P., & Perry, A. (2014). Fundamentals of Nursing. Elsevier – Health Sciences Division