What is the Difference Between Glenoid Cavity and Acetabulum

The key difference between glenoid cavity and acetabulum is that the glenoid cavity is found in the upper human body where the humerus joins the scapula. Meanwhile, the acetabulum is located in the lower human body, where the ilium joins the femur.

The glenoid cavity and acetabulum are two types of bony cavities or sockets in the body. They articulate the limbs to the central axial skeleton. The glenoid cavity articulates with the head of the humerus in the upper limb of the body. On the other hand, the acetabulum articulates with the head of the femur in the lower limb of the body.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Glenoid Cavity
3. What is Acetabulum
4. Similarities – Glenoid Cavity and Acetabulum
5. Glenoid Cavity vs. Acetabulum in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Glenoid Cavity vs. Acetabulum

What is Glenoid Cavity?

A glenoid cavity is a shallow depression or socket on a bone where another bone fits, forming a joint. The cavity is especially on the scapula bone, into which the head of the humerus bone fits. It is also known as the glenoid fossa of the scapula. Moreover, the glenoid cavity tends to have a wider width below than above, and its vertical diameter is also greater. And it forms a joint known as the glenohumeral joint along with the head of the humerus. This type of joint is classified as synovial, ball and socket joint. However, the glenoid cavity is relatively shallow compared to the acetabulum at the hip joint. Therefore, this makes the shoulder joint prone to dislocation very easily.

Though very shallow, the glenoid cavity allows the shoulder joint to have the greatest mobility and rotation compared to other joints in the human body. Therefore, the primary function of the glenoid cavity is to enable the shoulder joint to get the highest flexibility, which allows 120 degrees of unsupported flexion.

What is Acetabulum?

Acetabulum is the socket of the hip bone into which the head of the femur fits. It is also known as the cotyloid cavity, a concave surface of the hip or pelvis bone. Therefore, together with the head of the femur, the acetabulum forms the hip joint. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. Generally, three bones of the hip bone come together to form the acetabulum.

Being part of the hip joint, the primary function of the acetabulum is to bear up larger weights together with lower extremities from the vertebral column when standing and allow the range of motion necessary for walking, running, climbing, or jumping.

What are the Similarities Between Glenoid Cavity and Acetabulum?

• The glenoid cavity and acetabulum are two types of bony cavities or sockets in the body.
• Both help to form important joints in the body.
• They help in body movement and mobility.
• Problems with both can cause diseases.

What is the Difference Between Glenoid Cavity and Acetabulum?

The glenoid cavity is found in the upper human body, where the humerus joins the scapula. At the same time, the acetabulum is located in the lower human body, where the ilium joins the femur. Thus, this is the key difference between glenoid cavity and acetabulum. Furthermore, the glenoid cavity is on the scapula bone, while the acetabulum is on the hip or pelvic bone.

The infographic below presents the differences between glenoid cavity and acetabulum in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Glenoid Cavity vs. Acetabulum

Summing up, the glenoid cavity and acetabulum are two types of body cavities or sockets that articulate the limbs to the central axial skeleton of the body. The glenoid cavity articulates the upper limb to the axial skeleton by forming the glenohumeral joint. The glenohumeral joint is formed when the glenoid cavity scapula bone fits into the head of the humerus bone. On the other hand, the acetabulum articulates the lower limb to the axial skeleton by forming the hip joint. The hip joint is formed when the acetabulum of the hip bone connects with the head of the femur. So, this is the summary of the difference between glenoid cavity and acetabulum.

Reference:

1. “Glenoid Cavity.”An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Acetabulum Fractures.” Boston Medical Center.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Glenoid cavity of scapula01” By Polygon data is from BodyParts3D – Polygon data is from BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 2.1 jp) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Acetabulum” By Anatomist90 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia