Uterine artery

The uterine artery arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery and runs medialward on the Levator ani and toward the cervix uteri; about 2 cm from the cervix it crosses above and in front of the ureter, to which it supplies a small branch. Reaching the side of the uterus it ascends in a tortuous manner between the two layers of the broad ligament to the junction of the uterine tube and uterus. It then runs lateralward toward the hilus of the ovary, gives an ovarian branch of uterine artery that ends by joining with the ovarian artery.

The uterine artery supplies branches to the cervix uteri and others which descend on the vagina. Theses vaginal branches of the uterine artery latter anastomose with branches of the vaginal arteries and form with them two median longitudinal vessels, the azygos arteries of the vagina, one of which runs down in front of and the other behind the vagina.

The uterine artery supplies numerous branches to the body of the uterus (helicine branches), and from its terminal portion twigs are distributed to the uterine tube (tubal branch) and the round ligament of the uterus.