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.)
Round ligament Ovary Uterine cavity Intestinal surface of uterus Vesical surface (toward bladder) Fundus of uterus Body of uterus Palmate folds of cervical canal Cervical canal Posterior lip Cervical os (external) Isthmus of uterus Supravaginal portion of cervix Vaginal portion of cervix Anterior lip Cervix
Details
Precursor	lower gubernaculum[1]
Artery	uterine artery, artery of round ligament of uterus
Identifiers
Latin	ligamentum teres uteri
MeSH	A05.360.319.114.803
TA	A09.1.03.029
FMA	20420
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The round ligament of the uterus originates at the uterine horns, in the parametrium. The round ligament enters 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 is turned forward at the junction of cervix and vagina) 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
• 
  Round ligament of uterus

See also

• Round ligament pain

References

1. 1 2 Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05
2. ↑ Anatomy photo:43:03-0201 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Pelvis: The Broad Ligament"
3. ↑ Anatomy photo:36:03-0105 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The Internal Surface of the Anterior Abdominal Wall"
4. ↑ "Pregnancy-Round Ligament Pain". webMD.com. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 

External links

• Anatomy figure: 43:01-10 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Superior anterior view of the female pelvis."
• Anatomy image:7368 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Anatomy image:9601 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Anatomy image:9658 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Atlas image: abdo_wall63 at the University of Michigan Health System - "The Male & Female Inguinal Canal"
• pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus, broadligament)
• figures/chapter_35/35-2.HTM: Basic Human Anatomy at Dartmouth Medical School