Uterine artery
{{Short description|Artery that supplies blood to the uterus}}
{{Infobox artery
| Name = Uterine artery
| Latin = arteria uterina
| Image = Gray1170.png
| Caption = Arteries of the female reproductive tract: uterine artery, ovarian artery and vaginal arteries. (Uterine artery labeled at center.)
| Image2 = Gray589.png
| Caption2 = Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view. (Uterine artery labeled at center right.)
| BranchFrom = Internal iliac artery (i.e. hypogastric artery)
| BranchTo =
| Vein = Uterine veins
| Supplies = Round ligament of the uterus, ovary, uterus, vagina, uterine tube
}}
The uterine artery is an artery that supplies blood to the uterus in females.
Structure
The uterine artery usually arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It travels to the uterus, crossing the ureter anteriorly, to the uterus by traveling in the cardinal ligament.{{Cite journal|last1=Pelage|first1=J. P.|last2=Walker|first2=W. J.|last3=Dref|first3=O. Le|last4=Rymer|first4=R.|date=2003-06-01|title=Ovarian Artery: Angiographic Appearance, Embolization and Relevance to Uterine Fibroid Embolization|journal=CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology|language=en|volume=26|issue=3|pages=227–233|doi=10.1007/s00270-002-1875-3|pmid=14562969|s2cid=23788447|issn=0174-1551}}
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.
=Branches and organs supplied=
- round ligament of the uterus
- ovary ("ovarian branches")
- uterus (arcuate vessels)
- vagina (Vaginal branches of uterine artery)
- uterine tube ("tubal branch")
=Anatomical variants=
Uterine artery can arise from the first branch of inferior gluteal artery. It can also arise as the 2nd or 3rd branch from the inferior gluteal artery. On the other hand, uterine artery can be first branch from internal iliac artery before the superior and inferior gluteal arteries branching off from the main arterial trunk. In addition to that, uterine artery can also arise directly from internal iliac artery together with superior and inferior gluteal arteries.{{Cite journal |last1=Rand |first1=Thomas |last2=Patel |first2=Rafiuddin |last3=Magerle |first3=Wolfgang |last4=Uberoi |first4=Raman |date=December 2020 |title=CIRSE standards of practice on gynaecological and obstetric haemorrhage |journal=CVIR Endovascular |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=85 |doi=10.1186/s42155-020-00174-7 |issn=2520-8934 |pmc=7695782 |pmid=33245432 |doi-access=free }}
Clinical significance
= Hysterectomy =
The uterine arteries are ligated during hysterectomy.{{Citation|last1=Pareja|first1=Rene|title=Chapter 7 - Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy|date=2018-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323428781000079|work=Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery|pages=104–115|editor-last=Ramirez|editor-first=Pedro T.|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-42878-1|access-date=2021-02-04|last2=Ramirez|first2=Pedro T.|editor2-last=Frumovitz|editor2-first=Michael|editor3-last=Abu-Rustum|editor3-first=Nadeem R.}}
See also
- Uterine artery embolization
- Uterine leiomyomata (fibroids of the uterus)
References
External links
- {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|43|13|02|04}} - "The Female Pelvis: Branches of Internal Iliac Artery"
- {{NormanAnatomy|pelvis}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|uterus}})
{{Arteries of thorax and abdomen}}
{{Authority control}}