Ligaments of the female pelvis

Ligament	Connects	Structures Contained	Notes
Infundibulopelvic ligament	Ovary to lateral pelvic wall	Ovarian vessels	Also called suspensory ligament of ovary Ovarian vessel ligation during oophorectomy risks damaging the ureter
Ovarian ligament	Ovary to uterine horn	-	Derivative of gubernaculum
Round ligament	Uterine horn to labia majora	-	Travels through inguinal canal Derivative of gubernaculum
Broad ligament	Uterus to lateral pelvic wall	Ovary, fallopian tube, round ligament	Fold of peritoneum comprising the mesometrium, mesovarium, and mesosalpinx
Cardinal ligament	Cervix to lateral pelvic wall	Uterine vessels	Condensation at the base of broad ligament Uterine vessel ligation during hysterectomy risks damaging the ureter
Uterosacral ligament	Cervix to sacrum	-	-

Mnemonic

You use your credit card (which is in your pants pocket, lateral) to buy a tampon (which is round and inserted into the vagina)

Tip

Both ovarian vessels and uterine vessels are in the ligaments that connect with lateral pelvic wall, because ovarian artery originates directly from the abdominal aorta, usually just below the level of the renal arteries, and the uterine artery arises as a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.

• Ovarian
  • Artery Origin:
    • Primarily from the abdominal aorta.
  • Vein Drainage:
    • Right Ovarian Vein: Drains into the inferior vena cava (IVC).
    • Left Ovarian Vein: Drains into the left renal vein.
• Uterine
  • Artery Origin:
    • Primarily from the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery.
  • Vein Drainage:
    • Drains into the internal iliac vein.