Objective To investigate the trabecular stress distributions on the cortical bone and determine whether the cancellous bone can share the load of the acetabulum with a press-fit acetabular cup. Methods The acetabulum was scanned via micro-computed tomography (CT) to build a three-dimensional micro-finite element analysis (μFEA) model of the acetabulum. The trabecular stress and strain of the bony acetabulum were calculated following total hip arthroplasty (THA) to investigate the biomechanical characteristics of their distributions. Results With the implantation of the press-fit acetabular cup into the acetabulum, the high-stress zone of the articular surface was found to be located in the pubic bone area, with a maximum stress of 1.398 MPa. The largest high-stress zone within the articular surface was at the craniomedial part where it was supported by the iliac. For the cancellous bone within the acetabulum, the high stress was relatively widely distributed on the craniomedial part. When a 1.372 kN load was applied, the high stress was found at the craniomedial and anterior-inferior parts of the articular surface where it was supported by the iliac and pubic bone, with a trabecular micro-damage occurring in the anterior-inferior part. The highest tensile stress at the craniomedial part was 0.604 MPa. For the cancellous bone within the acetabulum, the high stress was mainly distributed on the craniomedial and anterior-inferior parts. Conclusions The high stress near the periphery of the articular surface showed a three-point circular distribution, which was mainly distributed on the iliac, ischial, and pubic bone area. The stress was distributed more uniformly owing to the deformation of the cancellous bone in the acetabulum. The cancellous bone in the acetabulum has the function of load-bearing.