Uterosacral ligaments
The paired uterosacral ligaments are one of the supporting structures of the uterus. Uterosacral ligaments are not infrequently affected in cases of deep infiltrating endometriosis.
Gross anatomy
The paired uterosacral ligaments are extraperitoneal structures which extend posteriorly from the uterine cervix to sacrum, forming the lateral boundaries of the rectouterine and rectovaginal spaces.
They are composed of smooth muscle and connective tissue along with splanchnic nerve fibers.
Attachments
- anterior: lateral aspect of the cervix and upper vaginal wall, torus uterinus
- posterior: presacral soft tissues between S2 and S4, including coccygeus muscle, sacrospinous ligament, ischial spine, and presacral fascia
Radiographic features
Can be detected on CT as soft tissue density bands and on MRI as low T1 and T2 signal bands between the cervix and sacrum.
Related pathology
- endometriosis
- pelvic organ prolapse
