The ovarian artery is an

artery An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pul ...

that supplies

oxygenated blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the ci ...

to the

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

in females. It arises from the

abdominal aorta In human anatomy, the abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta (of the thorax). Structure The abdominal aorta begins at the level of the thoracic d ...

below the

renal artery The renal arteries are paired arteries that supply the kidneys with blood. Each is directed across the crus of the diaphragm, so as to form nearly a right angle. The renal arteries carry a large portion of total blood flow to the kidneys. Up to a ...

. It can be found within the suspensory ligament of the ovary, anterior to the ovarian vein and

ureter The ureters are tubes made of smooth muscle that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In a human adult, the ureters are usually long and around in diameter. The ureter is lined by urothelial cells, a type of transitional epit ...

Structure

The ovarian arteries are paired structures that arise from the

, usually at the level of L2. After emerging from the aorta, the artery travels within the suspensory ligament of the ovary and enters the

mesovarium The mesovarium is the portion of the broad ligament of the uterus that suspends the ovaries. The ovary is not covered by the mesovarium; rather, it is covered by germinal epithelium. At first the mesonephros and genital ridge are suspended by a c ...

. The ovarian arteries are the corresponding arteries in the

female Female (Venus symbol, symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ovum, ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the Sperm, male gamete during sexual reproduction. A female has larger gamet ...

to the

testicular artery The testicular artery (the male gonadal artery, also called the internal spermatic arteries in older texts) is a branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the testis. It is a paired artery, with one for each of the testes. It is the ...

in the

male Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization. A male organism cannot reproduce sexually without access to ...

. They are shorter than the testicular arteries, as the testicular arteries courses through the abdominal wall to the external

scrotum The scrotum or scrotal sac is an anatomical male reproductive structure located at the base of the penis that consists of a suspended dual-chambered sac of skin and smooth muscle. It is present in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum cont ...

. The origin and course of the first part of each artery are the same as those of the testicular artery, but on arriving at the upper opening of the

lesser pelvis The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis. Its oblique roof is the pelvic inlet (the superior opening of the pelvis). Its lower boundary is the pelvic floor. The pelvic cavity primarily contains the reproducti ...

the ovarian artery passes inward, between the two layers of the ovariopelvic ligament and of the

broad ligament of the uterus 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. Structure Subdivisions Contents The contents of the broad ligament include the following: * Reprodu ...

, to be distributed to the ovary.

Anastamoses

The ovarian artery may anastamose with the

uterine artery 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 ute ...

in the

broad ligament 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. Structure Subdivisions Contents The contents of the broad ligament include the following: * Reproduc ...

. This is thus an anastamosis between the abdominal aorta and the anterior internal iliac artery.

Branches

Small branches are given to the

and the

uterine tube The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') 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 embryos until birth. The uteru ...

, and one passes on to the side of the

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') 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 embryos until birth. The uter ...

, and unites with the

. Other offsets are continued on the

round ligament of the uterus The round ligament of the uterus is a ligament that connects the uterus to the labia majora. Structure The round ligament of the uterus originates at the uterine horns, in the parametrium. The round ligament exits the pelvis via the deep inguina ...

, through the

inguinal canal The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. T ...

, to the integument of the

labium majus The labia majora (singular: ''labium majus'') are two prominent Anatomical terms of location, longitudinal Skin, cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis to the perineum. Together with the labia minora they form the ...

and

groin In human anatomy, the groin (the adjective is ''inguinal'', as in inguinal canal) is the junctional area (also known as the inguinal region) between the abdomen and the thigh on either side of the pubic bone. This is also known as the medial comp ...

Variance

In 20%, they arise from the renal arteries (inferior polar). Uncommonly they may arise from adrenal, lumbar, or internal iliac arteries.Chiva, L. M., & Magrina, J. (2018). Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy. Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, 3–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-42878-1.00002-x

Function

The ovarian artery supplies blood to the

and

. The ovarian arteries swell during pregnancy, in order to increase the uterine blood supply.

Additional images

File:Gray531.png, The abdominal aorta and its branches. File:Gray589.png, Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view. File:Gray1161.png, Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind.

References

External links

"Anastomoses Between Utero - Ovarian Arteries, Variations" at anatomyatlases.org
* () * {{Authority control Arteries of the abdomen