The uterus or womb is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until birth. The uterus is a hormone-responsive sex organ that contains glands in its lining that secrete uterine milk for embryonic nourishment.
The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal organs, and is composed of a layer of mesothelium supported by a thin layer of connective tissue. This peritoneal lining of the cavity supports many of the abdominal organs and serves as a conduit for their blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.
Gynecologic ultrasonography or gynecologic sonography refers to the application of medical ultrasonography to the female pelvic organs as well as the bladder, the adnexa, and the recto-uterine pouch. The procedure may lead to other medically relevant findings in the pelvis.This technique is useful to detect myomas or mullerian malformations.
The round ligament of the uterus is a ligament that connects the uterus to the labia majora. It originates at the junction of the uterus and uterine tube. It passes through the inguinal canal to insert at the labium majus.
The greater omentum is a large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the greater curvature of the stomach, passing in front of the small intestines and doubles back to ascend to the transverse colon before reaching to the posterior abdominal wall. The greater omentum is larger than the lesser omentum, which hangs down from the liver to the lesser curvature. The common anatomical term "epiploic" derives from "epiploon", from the Greek epipleein, meaning to float or sail on, since the greater omentum appears to float on the surface of the intestines. It is the first structure observed when the abdominal cavity is opened anteriorly.
The broad ligament of the uterus is the wide fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis.
The suspensory ligament of the ovary, also infundibulopelvic ligament, is a fold of peritoneum that extends out from the ovary to the wall of the pelvis.
The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis. Its oblique roof is the pelvic inlet. Its lower boundary is the pelvic floor.
The perimetrium is the outer serosal layer of the uterus, derived from the peritoneum overlying the uterine fundus, and can be considered a visceral peritoneum. It consists of a superficial layer of mesothelium, and a thin layer of loose connective tissue beneath it.
The paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses – spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.
The pararectal fossa is an inferior-ward extension of the peritoneum on either side of the rectum. It is formed by a (sacrogenital) fold of peritoneum extending inferior-ward from the posterolateral pelvic wall. It represents a lateral extension of the rectouterine pouch in the female, and of rectovesical pouch in the male. It varies in size with the distension of the rectum.
The rectouterine fold is a bilaterally paired prominent ridge/fold of the peritoneum that represents the lateral boundary of the rectouterine pouch on either side. It is formed by the underlying rectouterine muscle. On either side, the rectouterine fold extends between the sacrum medially, and the base of the broad ligament of the uterus laterally.
In human female anatomy, the vesicouterine pouch, also uterovesicle pouch, is a fold of peritoneum over the uterus and the bladder. Like the rectouterine pouch, it is a female pelvic recess, but shallower and closer to the anterior fornix of the vagina.
Retropubic space is a potential avascular space located between the pubic symphysis and the urinary bladder. The retropubic space is a preperitoneal space, located behind the transversalis fascia and in front of peritoneum.
The rectovesical pouch is the pocket that lies between the rectum and the bladder in males in humans and other mammals. It is lined by peritoneum.
The uterosacral ligaments are major ligaments of uterus that extend posterior-ward from the cervix to attach onto the sacrum.
In human anatomy, the omental foramen is the passage of communication, or foramen, between the greater sac, and the lesser sac of the peritoneal cavity.
In medicine, excavation has two meanings:
An enterocele is a herniation of a peritoneum-lined sac containing small intestine through the pelvic floor, between the rectum and the vagina. Enterocele is significantly more common in females, especially after hysterectomy.
A cul-de-sac hernia is a herniation of peritoneal folds into the rectovaginal septum, or the rectovesical septum. The herniated structure is the recto-uterine pouch in females, or the rectovesical pouch in males. The hernia descends below the proximal (upper) third of the vagina in females, or, according to another definition, below the pubococcygeal line (PCL).
