Broad ligament of the uterus

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

Contents

Subdivisions

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

Contents

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

Structure

The peritoneum surrounds the uterus 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.

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

See also

References

  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". http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_6/chapter_35.html. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  5. ^ SUNY Labs 43:03-0300

External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.