Uterus Edge

Description

Along the lateral border (margo lateralis) of the adult uterus, the uterine corpus tapers toward each uterine horn where the fallopian tube, round ligament of the uterus, and ovarian ligament converge near the fundus. The broad ligament forms a double layer of peritoneum draped from the uterine margin to the lateral pelvic wall, creating the mesometrium inferiorly and continuing superiorly toward the mesosalpinx. Medial to this peritoneal fold sits the uterine cavity within the myometrium and endometrium, while laterally the parametrial connective tissue fills the base of the ligament and leads toward the uterine vessels in the cardinal (transverse cervical) ligament. Orientation matters. Surgeons and trainees fixate on this edge because it is where safe planes and dangerous structures run in parallel. The uterine artery approaches the cervix from lateral to medial, classically crossing superior to the ureter (water under the bridge), and both can be encountered at the base of the broad ligament during hysterectomy or uterine artery ligation for postpartum hemorrhage. A clear depiction of the uterine margins and broad ligament folds also supports teaching of how endometriosis can tether the lateral uterus to adnexal structures and the pelvic sidewall, distorting normal mobility and obscuring the ureter. Use this artwork for gynecologic anatomy modules on peritoneal reflections, for operative gynecology chapters illustrating hysterectomy landmarks, or for patient-facing diagrams explaining the “womb” and its lateral attachments without oversimplifying pelvic anatomy. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.