Suspensory ligament of ovary

Suspensory ligament of the ovary
Uterus and ovary, seen from behind. The suspensory ligament of the ovary (not labeled) is shown incompletely and in section; it surrounds the ovarian vessels (labeled).
Details
PrecursorUpper gubernaculum[1]
FromUpper pole of ovary and infundibulum of fallopian tube
ToLateral wall of the pelvis
Identifiers
Latinligamentum suspensorium ovarii
TA98A09.1.01.018F
TA23805
FMA19822
Anatomical terminology

The suspensory ligament of the ovary, also infundibulopelvic ligament (commonly abbreviated IP ligament or simply IP), is a fold of peritoneum[2] that extends out from the ovary to the wall of the pelvis.

Some sources consider it a part of the broad ligament of uterus[3] while other sources just consider it a "termination" of the ligament.[4] It is not considered a true ligament in that it does not physically support any anatomical structures; however it is an important landmark and it houses the ovarian vessels.

The suspensory ligament is directed upward over the iliac vessels.

  1. ^ Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho05
  2. ^ pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
  3. ^ "Suspensory ligament" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  4. ^ Anatomy photo:43:03-0300 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center