Uterine artery
Last revised by Dennis Odhiambo Agolah
on 15 Nov 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
D'Souza D, Agolah D, Hacking C, et al. Uterine artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5112
Permalink:
rID:
5112
Article created:
6 Dec 2008,
Donna D'Souza
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Donna D'Souza had no recorded disclosures.
View Donna D'Souza's current disclosures
Last revised:
15 Nov 2022,
Dennis Odhiambo Agolah
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Dennis Odhiambo Agolah had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Dennis Odhiambo Agolah's current disclosures
Revisions:
12 times, by
8 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Uterine arteries
The uterine artery is seen bilaterally and is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.
Gross anatomy
Course
It runs medially in the pelvis, within the base of the broad ligament, to the outer surface of the uterus. From lateral to medial it has a descending, transverse and ascending portion. The ascending portion runs alongside the uterus and passes anterior to the ureter.
Branches and supply
- helicine branches (characteristic corkscrew configuration): supplies uterus
- vaginal branch (anastomoses with vaginal artery): supplies vagina
- ovarian branch (anastomoses with ovarian artery): supplies ovaries
- tubal branch: supplies fallopian tubes
Related pathology
With large uterine fibroids, the helicine branches of the uterine artery are stretched and lose their corkscrew appearance (see image).
Uterine artery embolisation is a common endovascular procedure used to treat a variety of conditions, including postpartum haemorrhage and fibroids. Due to the rich collateral supply of the uterus, uterine necrosis from uterine artery embolisation is rare.
References
- 1. Sinnatamby CS. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0702033952. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Kaufman JA, Lee MJ. Vascular & interventional radiology. Mosby Inc. (2004) ISBN:0815143699. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Cervix
- Endometrium
- Ureter
- Middle rectal artery
- Cardinal ligament
- Fallopian tube
- Ovary
- Branches of internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- Round ligament of the uterus
- Vagina
- Inferior vesical artery
- Parametrium
- Detrusor muscle
- Vaginal artery
- Uterus
- Myometrium
- Ovarian artery
- Branches of anterior and posterior divisions of the internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- Broad ligament
- Internal iliac artery
Cases:
- Embolised uterine fibroid (x-ray)
- Absent end diastolic flow - umbilical artery
- Uterine arteries arterial collaterals
- Uterine arteries arterial collaterals
- Secondary abdominal pregnancy after uterine expulsion
- Uterine artery angiography demonstrating fibroids
- Uterine artery on angiography
- Vascularisation of the female reproductive system (Gray's illustration)
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- coeliac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- umbilical artery
- superior vesical artery
- obturator artery
- vaginal artery
- inferior vesical artery
- uterine artery
- middle rectal artery
-
internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
-
perineal artery
- posterior scrotal artery
- transverse perineal artery
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis/clitoris
- dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris
- inferior gluteal artery
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses
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