(brod LIH-guh-ment) The layer of tissue that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis. The broad ligament covers the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. It also includes nerves and blood vessels to these organs.
Where is the broad ligament located?
The broad ligament is a double-layered sheet of mesothelial cells. It extends from the sides of the uterus medially to the pelvic sidewalls laterally and the pelvic floor inferiorly. Superiorly, it engulfs sequentially from anterior to posterior the round ligaments, fallopian tubes, and utero-ovarian ligaments.
What is a Mesosalpinx?
Serous layer of the Fallopian tube, also known as mesosalpinx (Fig. 2A), is the outer tissue layer that wraps around the Fallopian tube and is part of the peritoneal cavity lining. Mesosalpinx is composed of epithelial cells of mesothelium and a mesh of serous membrane lining (interstitial connective tissue).
Is the broad ligament formed from muscle?
The broad ligament is composed of visceral and parietal peritoneum that contains smooth muscle and connective tissue.
What is another name for the broad ligament?
These are also known as the utero-ovarian ligaments or the proper ovarian ligaments. The uterine arteries branch from the internal iliac arteries and travel to the uterus via the cardinal ligaments, or lateral (transverse) cervical ligaments, which run along the base of the broad ligament.
What is the Mesometrium?
The mesometrium is the largest portion and extends laterally from the entire surface of the uterus. The mesosalpinx is the fold of peritoneum draping over both uterine tubes, and the mesovarium is the fold attaching the anterior portion of each ovary to the posterior part of the broad ligament.
What are the contents of the broad ligament?
The contents of the broad ligament include the following: Reproductive Uterine tubes (or Fallopian tube) ovary (some sources consider the ovary to be on the broad ligament, but not in it.) vessels ovarian artery (in the suspensory ligament) uterine artery (in reality, travels in the cardinal ligament)
Where are the broad ligaments located in the uterus?
The broad ligaments pass from the margins of the uterus to the lateral walls of the pelvis and, together with the uterus, form a septum across the lesser pelvis, dividing it into two parts.
How old do you have to be to have broad ligament tumor?
Ependymoma of the broad ligament is an extremely rare tumor that occurs in patients with a mean age of 38 (range 13–48) years who typically present with a pelvic mass or acute abdominal pain. Prashant Chittiboina, Russell R. Lonser, in Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 2015
Where are the ligaments located in the human body?
The anterior part contains the bladder and uterocystic recess; the posterior part includes the rectum, cul-de-sac, terminal ileum, and part of the sigmoid colon. These ligaments enclose the subperitoneal space, which includes the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, arteries, nerves, lymphatics, and distal ureters as they enter the bladder.
