| Cardinal ligament | |
|---|---|
| Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view. (Cardinal ligament not visible, but location can be inferred from position of uterine artery and uterine vein.) | |
| Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. (Cardinal ligament not labeled, but broad ligament visible at center.) | |
| Latin | ligamentum cardinale, ligamentum transversum cervicis, ligamentum transversalis colli |
| Gray's | subject #268 1261 |
The cardinal ligament (or Mackenrodt's ligament[1], lateral cervical ligament, or transverse cervical ligament[2]) is a major ligament of the uterus. It is located at the base of the broad ligament of the uterus. Importantly, it contains the uterine artery and uterine vein. There is a pair of cardinal ligaments in the female human body.
It attaches the cervix to the lateral pelvic wall at the ischial spine, and is continuous externally with the fibrous tissue that surrounds the pelvic blood vessels. It thus provides support to the uterus.[3]
It may be of clinical significance in hysterectomy,[4][5] due to its close proximity to the ureters, which can get damaged during ligation of the ligament.
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 As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
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