Broad ligament of the uterus

Broad ligament of the uterus
Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. (Broad ligament visible at center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	ligamentum latum uteri
TA	A10.1.02.505F
FMA	16516
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The broad ligament of the uterus is the wide fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis.

Subdivisions

The broad ligament may be divided into three subcomponents:^[1]

• Mesometrium – the mesentery of the uterus; the largest portion of the broad ligament
• Mesosalpinx – the mesentery of the Fallopian tube
• Mesovarium – the mesentery of the ovaries.

Contents

The contents of the broad ligament include the following:^[2]

• Reproductive
  • Uterine tubes (or Fallopian tube)
  • ovary (some sources consider the ovary to be on the broad ligament, but not in it.)^[3]
• vessels
  • ovarian artery (in the suspensory ligament)^[4]
  • uterine artery (in reality, travels in the cardinal ligament)
• ligaments
  • ovarian ligament
  • round ligament of uterus
  • suspensory ligament of the ovary (Some sources consider it a part of the broad ligament while other sources just consider it a "termination" of the ligament.^[5])

Structure

The peritoneum surrounds the uterus like a flat sheet that folds over its fundus, covering it anteriorly and posteriorly; on the sides of the uterus, this sheet of peritoneum comes in direct contact with itself, forming the double layer of peritoneum known as the broad ligament of the uterus.

The part where this peritoneal sheet is folded (i.e. the free edge) has the uterine tubes running between the two layers; this part is known as the mesosalpinx.

Function

The broad ligament serves as a mesentery for the uterus, ovaries, and the uterine tubes. It helps in maintaining the uterus in its position, but it is not a major contributing factor.

Additional images

• 

  Broad ligament of adult, showing epoöphoron.

See also

• Cardinal ligament
• Pelvic diaphragm
• Parametrium

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05
2. pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus, broadligament)
3. Kyung Won, PhD. Chung (2005). Gross Anatomy (Board Review). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 273. ISBN 0-7817-5309-0.
4. "Chapter 35: Female genitalia". Retrieved 2007-12-09.
5. Anatomy photo:43:03-0300 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center

External links

• Anatomy image:9671 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Anatomy image:9783 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Anatomy photo: Reproductive/mammal/femalesys1/femalesys6 - Comparative Organology at University of California, Davis - Mammal, female overview (Gross, Medium)"
• Diagram at med.mun.ca
• figures/chapter_35/35-2.HTM: Basic Human Anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School