Broad ligament of the uterus

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Ligament: Broad ligament of the uterus

Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. (Broad ligament visible at center.)
Latin	ligamentum latum uteri
Gray's	subject #268 1259
From
To
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_09/12492509

The broad ligament of the uterus refers to the wide fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis. The name for the structure is misleading, because the term ligament typically refers to tissue that connects bones together.

1 Contents
2 Subdivisions
3 Structure
4 Function
5 Additional images
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Contents

The contents of the broad ligament include the following:^[1]

[edit] Subdivisions

The broad ligament may be divided into three subcomponents:^[2]

Mesometrium - the mesentery of the uterus; the largest portion of the broad ligament
Mesosalpinx - the part that surrounds the uterine tube
Mesovarium - the part that surrounds the ovary

Some sources consider the suspensory ligament of the ovary a part of the broad ligament^[3] while other sources just consider it a "termination" of the ligament.^[4]

[edit] Structure

The peritoneum surrounds the uterus is like a flat sheet that is folded over the uterus; 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Additional images

Broad ligament of adult, showing epoöphoron.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ Norman/Georgetown pelvis (uterus, broadligament)
^ Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05
^ Dorlands/Elsevier l_09/12493199
^ SUNY Labs 43:03-0300

[edit] External links

SUNY Anatomy Image 9671
SUNY Anatomy Image 9783
Organology at UC Davis Reproductive/mammal/femalesys1/femalesys6 - Mammal, female overview (Gross, Medium)"
Diagram at med.mun.ca

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.