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 p ...
that supplies
oxygenated blood 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 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 ...
. 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 ep ...
.
Structure
The ovarian arteries are
paired structures that arise from the
abdominal aorta, 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 ovarian arteries are the corresponding arteries in the
female to the
testicular artery in the
male. They are shorter than the testicular arteries, as the testicular arteries courses through the abdominal wall to the external
scrotum.
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 reprodu ...
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:
* Reproduc ...
, 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
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 ep ...
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 ute ...
, and one passes on to the side of the
uterus, and unites 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 ...
. 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 longitudinal cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis to the perineum. Together with the labia minora they form the labia of the vulva.
The labia maj ...
and
groin.
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
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. ...
and
uterus. 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.
See also
References
External links
"Anastomoses Between Utero - Ovarian Arteries, Variations" at anatomyatlases.org* ()
*
{{Authority control
Arteries of the abdomen