The femoral head is attached to the lower femur by the femoral neck. The transition between the head and neck is often referred to as the head-neck junction. It is important to have a femoral head that is round and much larger than the femoral neck supporting it. This difference in size (diameter) is called the head-neck ratio. The larger the ratio, or difference between the head and neck, the more motion available to the hip before the bone at the head-neck junction contacts the bone at the rim, or edge, of the acetabulum. If excess bone develops at the head-neck junction, the ratio between the head and neck is decreased and contact between the ball and socket occurs much earlier in motion. This early contact is often referred to as hip impingement. Early contact can also occur due to increased bone at the edge of the socket, a deep socket or a poorly positioned socket.
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