| Broad ligament of the uterus | |
|---|---|
 Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. (Broad ligament visible at center.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ligamentum latum uteri |
| MeSH | D001956 |
| TA98 | A10.1.02.505F |
| TA2 | 3800 |
| FMA | 16516 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thebroad ligament of the uterus is the wide fold ofperitoneum that connects the sides of theuterus to the walls and floor of thepelvis.
| Subcomponent | Mesentery |
|---|---|
| Mesometrium[1] | Uterus - the largest portion of the broad ligament |
| Mesosalpinx[1] | Fallopian tubes |
| Mesovarium[1][2] | Ovaries[2] |
The contents of the broad ligament include the following:[3]
Theperitoneum surrounds theuterus like a flat sheet that folds over itsfundus, 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 theuterine tubes running between the two layers; this part is known as themesosalpinx.
The broad ligament serves as amesentery 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.
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.[7]
This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 1258 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
