Acetabulum is part of?

Appeared in: HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

The acetabulum is the cup-shaped socket of the hip bone.
The hip bone is formed by the fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
The two hip bones together form the pelvic girdle.
The acetabulum articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint, as clearly shown in the provided image.
Therefore, the acetabulum is an integral part of the pelvic girdle.

Option B: The pectoral girdle, or shoulder girdle, consists of the scapula and clavicle. Its corresponding socket is the glenoid cavity, which articulates with the humerus, not the femur.
Option C: The forearm is the part of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist, containing the radius and ulna bones. It has no connection to the acetabulum.
Option D: The upper arm contains the humerus bone. The head of the humerus articulates with the pectoral girdle, not the pelvic girdle.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the pelvic girdle and hip joint as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The acetabulum is a critical structure for weight-bearing and mobility. Fractures of the acetabulum are serious injuries, often resulting from high-energy trauma like car accidents, and can lead to post-traumatic arthritis.
In total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement surgery), a damaged acetabulum and femoral head are replaced with prosthetic components. The surgeon places a metal cup into the prepared acetabulum.
Nurses caring for post-operative hip replacement patients must enforce precautions like using an abduction pillow and avoiding hip flexion greater than 90 degrees to prevent dislocation of the new joint.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key anatomical term in the question: 'Acetabulum'.
Recall or deduce the location and function of the acetabulum. The term itself sounds like a socket or receptacle.
Analyze the provided image. It clearly shows a ball-and-socket joint at the hip, with the 'socket' being the acetabulum, which is part of the larger pelvic structure.
Evaluate the options based on this anatomical knowledge.
Option A, 'Pelvic girdle', contains the hip bones, and therefore the acetabulum.
Options B, C, and D relate to the upper limb (shoulder, arm, forearm) and can be eliminated as they are anatomically distinct from the hip region.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Anatomy of the pelvic girdle and hip joint.
Stem keywords: Acetabulum, part of
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Clinical cues: The image provided shows the hip joint, visually confirming the location of the acetabulum.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Osteology InderbirSingh 5e pp. 118-120, 29-31

E6 Anatomy BDChaurasia V2 10e Part 1 p. 26-28

Practise the full HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.