Os acetabuli refers to unfused secondary ossification centers located at the acetabular rim, essentially small, extra pieces of bone that can be found around the hip socket. These are also observed in severely dysplastic hips, where they are considered fatigue fractures of the acetabular rim due to overload.
Understanding Os Acetabuli
Here's a breakdown to help you understand os acetabuli:
- Definition: Os acetabuli are ossicles (small bones) at the edge of the acetabulum (the hip socket).
- Origin: According to the reference material, they are unfused secondary ossification centers, meaning they are parts of the bone that didn't properly fuse during growth.
- Appearance in Dysplasia: Os acetabuli can also be seen in severely dysplastic (abnormally developed) hips. In these cases, they may represent fatigue fractures of the acetabular rim caused by excessive stress.
In essence, the term "os acetabuli" describes a specific anatomical finding at the hip joint.
