Broad ligament in the context of "Fallopian tubes"

The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts or salpinges (sg.: salpinx), are paired tubular sex organs in the human female body that stretch from the ovaries to the uterus. The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system. In other vertebrates, they are only called oviducts.

Each tube is a muscular hollow organ that is on average between 10 and 14 cm (3.9 and 5.5 in) in length, with an external diameter of 1 cm (0.39 in). It has four described parts: the intramural part, isthmus, ampulla, and infundibulum with associated fimbriae. Each tube has two openings: a proximal opening nearest to the uterus, and a distal opening nearest to the ovary. The fallopian tubes are held in place by the mesosalpinx, a part of the broad ligament mesentery that wraps around the tubes. Another part of the broad ligament, the mesovarium suspends the ovaries in place.

The perimetrium (or serous coat of uterus) 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.

Anteriorly, the perimetrium covers the fundus and upper body of the uterus until it meets the superoposterior surface of the adjacent urinary bladder, resulting in a concave fold of peritoneum called the vesicouterine pouch. Posteriorly, the perimetrium covers the entire surface of the uterus deep down to the cervix, where it then folds back onto the adjacent rectum to form the rectouterine pouch, the lowest gutter of the peritoneal cavity. Laterally, the perimetrium blends into the serosae of the broad ligaments.

The mesosalpinx is part of the lining of the abdominal cavity in higher vertebrates, specifically the portion of the broad ligament that stretches from the ovary to the level of the fallopian tube.

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 common mesentery, but as the embryo grows the genital ridge gradually becomes pinched off from the mesonephros, with which it is at first continuous, though it still remains connected to the remnant of this body by a fold of peritoneum. In the male, this is the mesorchium, and in the female, this is the mesovarium.