Uterosacral ligament
Ligamentum uterosacrale
- Latin synonym: Ligamentum rectouterinum
- Synonym: Rectouterine ligament; Recto-uterine ligament
- Eponym: Ligament of Petit
- Related terms: Uterosacral ligament; Rectouterine ligament
Definition
The uterosacral ligament (Rectouterine ligament; posterior ligament) consists of the rectovaginal fold of peritoneum, which is reflected from the back of the posterior fornix of the vagina on to the front of the rectum. It forms the bottom of a deep pouch called the rectouterine excavation, which is bounded in front by the posterior wall of the uterus, the supravaginal cervix, and the posterior fornix of the vagina; behind, by the rectum; and laterally by two crescentic folds of peritoneum which pass backward from the cervix uteri on either side of the rectum to the posterior wall of the pelvis. These folds are named the sacrogenital or rectouterine folds. They contain a considerable amount of fibrous tissue and non-striped muscular fibers which are attached to the front of the sacrum.
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