PELVIS 623 



anterior surface contains the round ligament of the uterus. The 

 portion of the broad ligament between the uterine tube and 

 the ovary is termed the mesosalpinx. The fold which proceeds 

 from the posterior surface of the ligament to the ovary is the 

 mesovarium^ and the portion of the broad ligament below the 

 level of the mesovarium is sometimes called the mesometrium. 

 In addition to the uterine tube, the ovary and its ligament, 

 and the round ligament of the uterus, the two layers of the 

 broad ligament include between them other structures, viz. (i) 

 \hz paroophoron \ (2) the uterine and ovarian vessels and nerves. 



Peritoneal Fossae. The paravesical fossa lies in front of 

 the broad ligament and at the side of the bladder. 



The middle or genital fossa is bounded anteriorly by the 

 back of the broad ligament and the ureteral ridge, and 

 posteriorly by a fold of peritoneum, similar to the sacro-genital 

 fold of the male (p. 558), which is called the utero-sacral 

 fold. This is semilunar in form, and curves, on each side, 

 from the back of the uterus to the posterior wall of the pelvis 

 at the side of the rectum. Between its two layers there are 

 some unstriped muscular fibres as well as connective tissue. 

 Where it crosses the back of the uterus it is known as the 

 torus uterinus. 



The pararectal fossae are situated at the sides of the empty 

 rectum between it and the utero-sacral fold. 



Excavatio Recto -uterina (Recto-uterine Pouch or Pouch 

 of Douglas) corresponds to the recto-genital pouch or recto- 

 vesical excavation in the male. In front it is bounded by 

 the peritoneum covering the upper part of the posterior 

 wall of the vagina and the lower part of the back of the 

 uterus ; behind by the peritoneum on the rectum ; while on 

 each side is the sacro-uterine fold of peritoneum. It is con- 

 tinuous laterally with the pararectal fossae, which are obliterated 

 when the rectum is distended (p. 559). 



Excavatio Vesico-uterina (Utero-vesical Touch) is a 

 shallow depression, not always distinguishable, between the 

 uterus and the upper part of the base of the bladder. 

 It is bounded laterally by two slight folds of peritoneum 

 termed the utero-vesical folds. 



The False Ligaments of the Bladder. These are the same 

 as in the male (p. 561), except that the utero-vesical folds take 

 the place of the longer sacro-genital folds or posterior false 

 ligaments of the bladder of the male. 



