Replacement hip joint, United States, 1998
Used to replace the socket of the hip joint, which is known as the acetabulum, this prosthetic is made from materials that are not recognised by the human body. This means that the immune system will not attack the new joint and reject it. With an ageing population, over 50,000 hip replacements are now carried out in the United Kingdom each year. This example was made by Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.
Object number:
1999-833
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: prostheses
Artificial body parts, or materials inserted into tissue for functional, cosmetic, or therapeutic effect. Prostheses can be functional (artificial arms and legs), or cosmetic (artificial eye).
Glossary: acetabulum
The cup-shaped cavity at the base of the hip bone into which the ball-shaped head of the femur fits.
Glossary: artificial hip joint
A replacement hip joint (the area where the thigh bone joins with the pelvis). The socket is replaced with a plastic or metal cup, while a metal ball (on a stem placed inside the bone) replaces the head of the femur. This process is also known as Hip Arthroplasty.