Round ligament of uterus

Round ligament of uterus
Sagittal section through the pelvis of a newly born female child. (Label for round ligament of uterus visible at upper right.)
1. Round ligament 2. Ovary 3. Uterine cavity 4. Intestinal surface of Uterus 5. Vesical surface (toward bladder) 6. Fundus of uterus 7. Body of uterus 8. Palmate folds of cervical canal 9. Cervical canal 10. Posterior lip 11. Cervical os (external) 12. Isthmus of uterus 13. Supravaginal portion of cervix 14. Vaginal portion of cervix 15. Anterior lip 16. Cervix
Latin	ligamentum teres uteri
Gray's	subject #268 1261
Artery	uterine artery, artery of round ligament of uterus
Precursor	lower gubernaculum[1]
MeSH	Round+Ligament

The round ligament of the uterus originates at the uterine horns, in the parametrium. The round ligament leaves the pelvis via the deep inguinal ring^[2], passes through the inguinal canal and continues on to the labia majora^[3] where its fibers spread and mix with the tissue of the mons pubis.

Function

The function of the round ligament is maintenance of the anteversion of the uterus (a position where the fundus of the uterus leans ventrally) during pregnancy. Normally, the cardinal ligament is what supports the uterine angle (angle of anteversion). When the uterus grows during pregnancy, the round ligaments can stretch causing pain.^[4]

Embryology

The round ligament develops from the gubernaculum which attaches the gonad to the labioscrotal swellings in the embryo.^[1]

Blood Supply

The round ligament is supplied by the artery of the round ligament, otherwise known as "Sampson's artery."

Additional images

• 

  The arteries of the internal organs of generation of the female, seen from behind.

• 

  Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view.

• 

  Female pelvis and its contents, seen from above and in front.

• 

  Round ligament of uterus

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05
2. ^ SUNY Labs 43:03-0201 - "The Female Pelvis: The Broad Ligament"
3. ^ SUNY Labs 36:03-0105 - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The Internal Surface of the Anterior Abdominal Wall"
4. ^ "Pregnancy-Round Ligament Pain". webMD.com. http://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-round-ligament-pain. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 

External links

• SUNY Figs 43:01-10 - "Superior anterior view of the female pelvis."
• SUNY Anatomy Image 7368
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9601
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9658
• Atlas of anatomy at UMich abdo_wall63 - "The Male & Female Inguinal Canal"
• pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus, broadligament)
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_35/35-2.HTM