1150 UROGENITAL SYSTEM. 
The peritoneum covering the fundus of the uterus is continued down over the 
anterior surface as far as the Meee of the body and cervix, where it leaves the 
uterus to be reflected on to the bladder, forming the utero- vesical fold, or “ anterior 
ligament of the uterus.” The peritoneal recess between the bladder and the uterus 
is called the utero-vesical pouch (excavatio vesico-uterina). Below the level of the 
floor of this pouch the anterior aspect of the cervix is connected by loose tissue 
with the posterior or basal part of the bladder. Posteriorly the peritoneum covers 
the whole of the uterus, except the small portion of the cervix which projects into 
the upper part of the vagina. The peritoneum covering the posterior surface of 
the uterus is continued to such a depth that it invests a small portion of the upper 
part of the posterior wall of the vagina before it is reflected on to the rectum, 
forming the recto-vaginal fold (Fig. 775). The deep pouch between the uterus and 
vagina in front and the rectum behind is called the pouch of Douglas (excavatio 
recto- uterina), and its entrance is bounded on each side by a crescentie peritoneal 
fold which passes from the posterior surface of the cervix uteri to the posterior wall 
of the pelvis, where it ends near the side of the rectum. These crescentic folds are 
called the recto-uterine folds (plicee recto-uterine), or folds of Douglas, and each con- 
tains between its layers a considerable amount of fibrous and smooth muscular tissue. 
Some of these fibres, which are continuous with the uterine wall, pass backwards to 
reach the rectum and constitute the recto-uterine muscle (musculus recto-uterinus) ; 
others, gaining an attachment to the front of the sacrum, form the utero-sacral 
ligament. In many cases the recto-uterine folds become continuous with one 
another across the middle line behind the cervix uteri. The peritoneum of the 
anterior and posterior surfaces, leaving the uterus along each lateral border to reach 
the side wall of the pelvis, forms the broad ligament of the uterus. 
The broad ligament (ligamentum latum uteri) is a wide peritoneal fold which 
passes from the lateral border of the uterus to. the pelvic wall, and contains between 
its layers several important structures (Fig. 774). The plane of the inner part of 
the ligament is determined by the position of the uterus. When the uterus is 
normally piaced the ligament has an anterior surface which looks downwards as 
well as forwards, and a posterior one which looks upwards and backwards. Near 
its attachment to the pelvis the ligament is placed more vertically. The free edge | 
of the hgament contains the Fallopian tube (Fig. 774), and follows the course pursued 
by that “structure. Thus, in the undisturbed nian of parts, it at first passes 
horizontally outwards towards the lower end of the ovary, where it ascends to arch 
over the upper pole of the ovary on its inner side. Owing to the course pursued 
by the Fallopian tube round the ovary, the broad ligament forms a kind of curtain 
over the gland, and the ovary comes to lie in a little pocket formed by the broad 
ligament, to which the name of bursa ovarii is applied (Fig. 773). This bursa ovarii 
is not to be confused with the fossa ovarica, or depression in the side wall of the 
pelvis, against which the ovary is usually placed. 
The positions of the various structures in connexion with the broad heament 
are most easily demonstrated when the ligament is spread out as flat as possible. 
The ovary is connected with the posterior layer of the broad hgament by a very 
short mesentery, called the mesovarium, which, passing to the hilus, encloses the 
ovarian vessels and nerves. The part of the broad hgament which shngs the 
Fallopian tube is called the mesosalpinx. When the ligament is spread out, the 
mesosalpinx has the form of a narrow triangle, the apex ‘of which is at the lateral 
angle of the uterus, while the upper side is formed by the Fallopian tube, and the 
lower one by the ligament of the ovary and the ovary itself. The narrow base of 
the triangle is directed outwards, Between the layers of this part of the broad 
ligament are situated the parovarium (epoophoron) and the paroophoron (Fig. 774). 
The part of the broad heament below the level of the mesosalpinx is ‘termed 
mesometrium, and contains, especially in its lower part, a considerable amount of 
fatty connective tissue (parametrium) and unstriped muscle fibres. 
The ligament of the ovary (ligamentum ovarii proprium) jis a rounded fibrous 
cord, of about one to one and a half inches in length, which is attached by its outer 
end to the lower pole of the ovary, and by its inner one to the lateral angle of the 
uterus immediately below and behind the entrance of the Fallopian tube. This 
