1318 THE UKO-GENITAL SYSTEM. 



vagina in front and the rectum behind is called the excavatio rectouterina, or recto- 

 uterine pouch of Douglas, and its entrance is bounded on each side by a crescentic 

 peritoneal fold, which passes from the posterior surface of the cervix uteri to the 

 posterior wall of the pelvis, and ends near the side of the rectum. These crescentic 

 folds are called the plicae rectouterinae, or recto-uterine folds of Douglas, and each 

 contains between its layers a considerable amount of fibrous and smooth muscular 

 tissue. A few of these fibres, which are continuous with the uterine wall, pass 

 backwards to reach the rectum and constitute the musculus rectouterinus ; others 

 are said to gain an attachment to the front of the sacrum, and form a utero-sacral 

 ligament. In many cases the recto-uterine folds become continuous with one 

 another across the median plane behind the cervix uteri, and form, in this position, 

 a transverse ridge termed the torus uterinus. The recto-uterine pouch of the 

 female represents the recto- vesical pouch of the male, and the folds which bound 

 it on each side, namely, the recto-uterine folds, correspond to the sacro-genital 

 folds (sometimes called posterior false ligaments of the bladder) in the male sex. 



The peritoneum of the vesical and intestinal surfaces, leaving the uterus along 

 each lateral border to reach the side wall of the pelvis, forms the broad ligament 

 of the uterus. 



The ligamentum latum uteri, or broad ligament, 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. 1032). The plane of the medial part of 

 the ligament is determined by the position of the uterus. When the uterus is 

 normally placed, 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 ligament contains the uterine tube, and follows the course pursued by 

 that structure. Thus, in the undisturbed condition of parts, it at first passes 

 horizontally laterally towards the uterine extremity of the ovary, where it ascends 

 to arch over the tubal pole of the ovary on its medial side. Owing to the course 

 pursued by the uterine tube round the ovary, the broad ligament forms a kind 

 of curtain over the gland, and the ovary lies in a little pocket formed by the broad 

 ligament, to which the name of bursa ovarica is applied (Figs. 1028 and 1029). This 

 bursa ovarica is not to be confused with the fossa ovarii, or depression on the side 

 wall of the pelvis, against which the ovary is usually placed. 



The various structures in connexion with the broad ligament 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 ligament by a 

 very short mesentery, called the mesovarium, which, passing to the hilum, encloses 

 the ovarian vessels and nerves as they reach the ovary. The part of the broad 

 ligament which slings the uterine 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 uterine tube, and the inferior one by the ligament of the ovary and the ovary 

 itself. The narrow base of the triangle is directed laterally. Between the layers 

 of this part of the broad ligament are situated the ep-oophoron (O.T. parovarium), 

 and the par-oophoron (Fig. 1032). The part of the broad ligament below the level of 

 the mesosalpinx is termed the mesometrium, and contains, especially in its lower part, 

 a considerable amount of fatty connective tissue, the parametrium, and unstriped 

 muscle fibres. The ureter and the uterine vessels lie in the lowest part of the 

 broad ligament where it joins the pelvic floor. The fibrous and smooth muscle 

 tissue which lies in the lower part of the broad ligament, immediately below 

 the uterine artery, forms what is known as the lateral cervical ligament of the 

 uterus. It is continuous with the dense tissue surrounding the branches of the 

 hypogastric artery, and in vertical antero-posterior section has a triangular outline 

 near its attachment to the cervix uteri. 



The highest part of the attached lateral portion of the broad ligament forms the 

 ligamentum suspensorium ovarii or suspensory ligament of the ovary, and contains 

 between its layers the ovarian vessels and nerves as they enter or leave the pelvis. 



The ligamentum ovarii proprium, or ligament of the ovary, is a rounded fibrous 



