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
Latinligamentum latum uteri
MeSHD001956
TA98A10.1.02.505F
TA23800
FMA16516
Anatomical terminology

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 pelvic cavity. There are three regions of the broad ligament. The main part is the mesometrium, other smaller areas are the mesosalpinx, and the mesovarium.

Structure

Subdivisions

The mesometrium serves as the mesentery of the uterus. It constitutes the majority of the broad ligament of the uterus. Other smaller parts are the mesosalpinx, next to the fallopian tube, and the mesovarium near to the ovary. The ureter is among the structures found in the mesometrium.

The mesosalpinx is part of the lining of the abdominal cavity in higher vertebrates, specifically the portion of the broad ligament that stretches from the ovary to the level of the fallopian tube.

Transverse section of human embryo eight and a half to nine weeks old. (Mesovarium visible at center.)

The mesovarium is the portion of the broad ligament that suspends the ovaries . The ovary is not covered by the mesovarium but is covered by ovarian surface epithelium (germinal epithelium). At first, the mesonephros and genital ridge are suspended by a common mesentery, but as the embryo grows the genital ridge gradually becomes pinched off from the mesonephros, with which it is at first continuous, though it still remains connected to the remnant of this body by a fold of peritoneum. In the male, this is the mesorchium, and in the female, this is the mesovarium.

Contents

The contents of the broad ligament include the following:

Relations

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.

Clinical significance

Broad ligament hernias are rare. Due to their vague clinical presentation they are difficult to distinguish from other types of internal hernias, which can cause small bowel obstruction.

Additional images

See also

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1258 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ↑ Craig, Morgan E.; Sudanagunta, Sneha; Billow, Megan (2024), "Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Broad Ligaments", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 29763118, retrieved 2024-07-02
  2. ↑ pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus, broadligament)
  3. ↑ Kyung Won Chung (2005). Gross Anatomy. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 273. ISBN 0-7817-5309-0.
  4. ↑ "Chapter 35: Female genitalia". Archived from the original on 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  5. ↑ "Anatomy photo:43:03-0300". SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ Ozben, Volkan; Aliyeva, Zumrud; Güler, Ibrahim; Barbur, Erol; Karahasanoglu, Tayfun; Baca, Bilgi (2020-09-01). "Laparoscopic management of incarcerated broad ligament hernia in a patient with bilateral parametrium defects – a video vignette". Colorectal Disease. 22 (9): 1197–1198. doi:10.1111/codi.15039. ISSN 1462-8910. PMID 32180330. S2CID 212739555.