FALLOPIAN faSH SEROUS 



TUBE iL^S^A. MEMBRANE 



THE UTERUS, OR WOMB 1409 



two sacrouterine all these being formed of peritoneum and, lastly, two round 

 ligaments. 



The anterior ligament or the uterovesical fold is reflected on to the bladder from 

 the front of the uterus, at the junction of the cervix and body. It forms the utero- 

 vesical pouch (excavatio vesicouterina) (Figs. 1165 and 1166). 



The posterior ligament or the rectovaginal fold passes from the posterior wall 

 of the uterus over the upper fourth of the vagina, and thence on to the rectum and 

 sacrum. It thus forms a pouch, called the rectovaginal pouch or Douglas' pouch 

 (Figs. 1165 and 1166), the boundaries of which are, in front, the posterior wall 

 of the uterus, the supravaginal portion of the cervix, and the upper fourth of the 

 vagina; behind, the rectum and sacrum; above, the small intestine; and laterally, 

 the folds of Douglas or rectouterine folds, which contain the sacrouterine ligaments. 



The broad ligament (ligamentum latum uteri) (Figs. 1166 and 1167) is a peri- 

 toneal fold which passes from each side of the uterus to the lateral wall of the 

 pelvis as high as the external iliac vein. From this region comes the peritoneal 

 fold called the suspensory ligament of the ovary (Fig. 1156). The two broad 

 ligaments form a septum across the pelvis, which divides that cavity into two por- 

 tions. In the anterior part are contained the bladder, urethra, and vagina; 

 in the posterior part, the rectum. With the uterus normally placed the anterior 

 surface of the broad ligament faces forward and downward, and the posterior 

 surface faces upward and backward. The ligament is more nearly vertical 

 at its pelvic attachment. The two layers of 



the broad ligament are mostly near to each ^^%, MESOSALPINX 



other, to the side and below they separate 

 and pass into the peritoneum of the lateral CORPUS 



l 1111 11 ALBICANS 



pelvic wall, the bladder, and the rectum. 

 Between the two layers of each broad liga- 

 ment are contained (1) the Fallopian tube 

 superiorly; (2) the round ligament; (3) the 

 ovary and its ligament; (4) the parovarium 

 or organ of Rosenmiiller, and the paroopho- 

 ron; (5) loose connective tissue, which is FOLLICLE'S 



called parametrium; (6) unstriped muscle 

 tissue; and (7) bloodvessels and nerves. The 

 Fallopian tube is in the free edge of the FIG 1167 _ The broad ligament of the 

 I >road ligament, and is contained in a special uterus with the mesovarium the mesosai- 



P . , PI pmx, the ovary, and the Fallopian tube m 



told, Which IS attached tO the part Ot the transverse section. (Toldt.) 



ligament near the ovary, and is known by the 



name of the mesosalpinx (Figs. 1164 and 1167). If the mesosalpinx is spread 

 out, it is seen to be roughly triangular; the base of the triangle is outward, the 

 apex at the upper and outer angle of the uterus; the upper boundary is the Fallo- 

 pian tube, and the lower boundary is the ovary and its ligament. Between the 

 two layers of the mesosalpinx are the parovarium and the paroophoron. Between 

 the fimbriated extremity of the tube and the lower attachment of the broad 

 ligament is a concave rounded margin, called the infundibulopelvic ligament 

 (Fig. 1160). 



The mesovarium passes upward from the posterior surface of the broad liga- 

 ment (Fig. 1167). Beneath the mesovarium is a larger and thicker portion of 

 the broad ligament, called the mesometrium (Fig. 1167). 



The sacrouterine or uterosacral ligaments (plicae redouterinae) are contained 

 in the peritoneal folds of Douglas. They pass from the second and third segments 

 of the sacrum, downward and forward on the lateral aspects of the rectum, to be 

 attached one on each side of the uterus at the junction of the supravaginal cervix 

 and the body, this point corresponding internally to the position of the os internum. 



89 



MESOMETRIUM' 



