| 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.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ligamentum cardinale, ligamentum transversum cervicis, ligamentum transversalis colli |
| TA98 | A09.1.03.031 A09.1.03.022 |
| TA2 | 3839 |
| FMA | 77064 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thecardinal ligament (alsotransverse cervical ligament,lateral cervical ligament,[1] orMackenrodt's ligament[2][1]) is amajor ligament of the uterus formed as a thickening of connective tissue of the base of thebroad ligament of the uterus. It extends laterally (on either side) from the cervix and vaginal fornix to attach onto the lateral wall of the pelvis. The female ureter,uterine artery, andinferior hypogastric (nervous) plexus course within the cardinal ligament. The cardinal ligament supports the uterus.[1]
The cardinal ligament is a paired structure on the lateral side of theuterus. It originates from the lateral part of thecervix.[3]
It attaches thecervix to the lateral pelvic wall by its attachment to theobturator fascia of theobturator internus muscle.[4] It attaches to theuterosacral ligament.[3]
It is continuous externally with the fibrous tissue surrounding the pelvic blood vessels.[4]
The cardinal ligament supports the uterus, providing lateral stability to the cervix.[1]
The cardinal ligament may be affected inhysterectomy.[5][6] Due to its proximity to the ureters, it can get damaged during ligation of the ligament. It is routinely cut during some uterine operations, although this can have side effects.[3]
This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 1261 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
