Uterine artery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Artery: Uterine artery
Arteries of the female reproductive tract: uterine artery, ovarian artery and vaginal arteries. (Uterine artery labeled at center.)
Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view. (Uterine artery labeled at center right.)
Latin	arteria uterina
Gray's	subject #155 615
Supplies	round ligament of the uterus, ovary, uterus, vagina, uterine tube
Source	internal iliac artery
Drain	uterine veins

The uterine artery is an artery in females that supplies blood to the uterus.

Contents 1 Structure 2 Branches and organs supplied 3 Additional images 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Structure

The uterine artery usually arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It travels to the uterus, crossing the ureter anteriorly, reaching the uterus by traveling in the transverse cervical ligament.

It travels through the parametrium of the inferior broad ligament of the uterus.

It commonly anastomoses (connects with) the ovarian artery.

The uterine artery is the major blood supply to the uterus and enlarges significantly during pregnancy.

[edit] Branches and organs supplied

• round ligament of the uterus
• ovary ("Ovarian branches")
• uterus
  • myometrium (helicine branches of uterine artery)
• vagina ("Vaginal branches" - azygos arteries of the vagina)
• uterine tube ("Tubal branch")

[edit] Additional images

[edit] See also

• Uterine artery embolization
• Uterine leiomyomata (fibroids of the uterus)

[edit] External links

• SUNY Labs 43:13-0204 - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"
• Uterine+artery at eMedicine Dictionary
• pelvis at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (uterus)

v • d • e List of arteries of torso – abdomen AA Anterior celiac left gastric esophageal branches splenic pancreatic branches (greater, dorsal) · short gastric · left gastro-omental common hepatic proper hepatic (cystic) · right gastric · gastroduodenal (right gastro-omental, superior pancreaticoduodenal, supraduodenal) SMA inferior pancreaticoduodenal · intestinal (jejunal, ileal, arcades, vasa recta)  · ileocolic (colic, anterior cecal, posterior cecal, ileal branch, appendicular)  · right colic · middle colic IMA left colic · sigmoid · superior rectal · marginal Posterior visceral middle suprarenal · renal (inferior suprarenal, ureteral) · gonadal (testicular ♂ / ovarian ♀) parietal inferior phrenic (superior suprarenal) · lumbar · median sacral terminal/ common iliac IIA Anterior umbilical superior vesical · to ductus deferens obturator anterior branch · posterior branch middle rectal vaginal branch ♀ uterine ♀ helicine · vaginal of uterine · ovarian of uterine · tubal of uterine V/IV vaginal ♀ · inferior vesical ♂ inferior gluteal accompanying of ischiadic nerve · crucial anastomosis internal pudendal inferior rectal · perineal(posterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀) · bulb of penis ♂/vestibule ♀ · urethral · deep artery of the penis ♂ (helicine)/clitoris ♀ · dorsal of the penis ♂/clitoris ♀ Posterior iliolumbar (lumbar, iliac) · lateral sacral · superior gluteal EIA inferior epigastric (cremasteric, round ligament) · deep circumflex iliac · femoral