Purpose. To redefine the ultrasonographic features of the normal hip joint in children and to establish a normal value for the neck-capsule distance (NCD) of its anterior recess. Materials and methods. 332 hips of 166 asymptomatic children were examined sonographically. In a sagittal section plane the maximum distance between the anterior surface of the femoral neck and the anterior limit of the articular capsule (NCD-A) was measured.