1986 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



Position and Fixation. — Although subject to deviations due to the influence 

 of other organs, especially the pull of the uterus, and of pregnancy, the long axis of 

 the normally placed ovary, in the erect posture, is approximately vertical (Fig. 1684). 

 The margin attached to the broad ligament of the uterus is directed forward and 

 slightly outward and the free convex border backward and inward. The outer sur- 

 face usually lies in contact with the peritoneum covering the lateral pelvic wall within 

 a more or less well-marked depression, the ovarian fossa (fossa ovarica). This recess, 

 triangular in its general outline and variable in depth, is included within the angle 

 formed by the diverging peritoneal folds covering the external and internal iliac vessels. 

 In favorable subjects, in which the amount of subperitoneal fat is small and the em- 

 bedded structures, therefore, not masked, the ureter and the uterine artery will be 

 seen forming the immediate boundary of the ovarian fossa behind, while above and 

 in front extends the remains of the obliterated hypogastric artery. Below, where its 



Fig. 1684. 



Peritoneum, cut edge 



Internal iliac artery 



Fimbriated end of Fallopian 

 tube, pulled forward 



Suspensory 

 ligament of ovary 



External iliac 

 vessels 



Round ligament 



Deep epigastric 

 artery 

 Mesosalpinx 



Obliterated 

 hypogastric artery 



Fallopian tube 



Bladder 

 Symphysis pubis 



Ureter 



-Right ovary, 

 median surface 



Ligament of ovary 



Utero-sacral 

 ligament 



Rectum 

 Recto-uterine pouch 



Uterus, pulled to the left 



Right lateral wall of pelvis, showing ovary in position ; Fallopian 

 tube has been pulled forward and uterus to the left. 



boundary is indistinct and uncertain, it fades into the pelvic floor, often without 

 demarcation. The floor of the fossa is obliquely crossed by the obturator vessels 

 and nerve. Within this depression the ovary lies, hidden to a considerable extent 

 beneath the oviduct, which arches over the upper pole and largely covers the median 

 surface with its expanded fimbriated end. The upper or tubal pole reaches almost 

 to the level of the external iliac vein and the pelvic brim, and is overhung by the 

 inner edge of the psoas muscle. The lower pole rests upon the upper (posterior) sur- 

 face of the broad ligament and nearly touches the pelvic floor — about 2 cm. above 

 and in front of the upper border of the pyriformis muscle and the trunk of the greater 

 sciatic nerve (Rieffel). 



The vertical position of the ovary is maintained by the suspensory ligament 

 (ligamentum suspensorium), also called infundibulo-pelvic ligament, which is a trian- 

 gular band of fibro-muscular tissue, attached to the upper tubal pole of the ovary and 

 invested by a peritoneal fold continued from the upper and outer corner of the broad 



