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

[edit] 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 part that surrounds the uterine tube
Mesovarium - the part that connects the anterior surface of the ovary to the remainder of the broad ligament.

[edit] Contents

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

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

[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

^ Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05
^ pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus, broadligament)
^ Kyung Won, PhD. Chung (2005). Gross Anatomy (Board Review). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 273. ISBN 0-7817-5309-0.
^ "Chapter 35: Female genitalia". http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_6/chapter_35.html. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
^ 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
Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_35/35-2.HTM

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.

[0] Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05

[1] pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus, broadligament)

[isbn0-7817-5309-0-2] Kyung Won, PhD. Chung (2005). Gross Anatomy (Board Review). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 273. ISBN 0-7817-5309-0.

[titleChapter_35:_Female_genitalia-3] "Chapter 35: Female genitalia". http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_6/chapter_35.html. Retrieved 2007-12-09.

[SUNY-4] SUNY Labs 43:03-0300

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