The ovary is a paired, almond-shaped female gonad responsible for producing egg cells and secreting sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain secondary sex characteristics. To function, the ovary must be securely positioned within the pelvic cavity, achieved through a network of soft tissues and specialized folds of the peritoneum.
Location and General Positioning
The ovaries are situated within the pelvic cavity, typically resting in a shallow depression on the lateral pelvic wall known as the ovarian fossa. This fossa is generally bounded by major blood vessels, including the external iliac artery and the ureter. Each ovary is located on either side of the uterus, maintaining a specific proximity to its associated fallopian tube.
This positioning ensures the ovary is close to the fallopian tube’s funnel-shaped end, which features finger-like projections called fimbriae. During ovulation, the fimbriae sweep over the ovary to capture the egg and guide it into the fallopian tube. The ovary is not directly attached to the fallopian tube, however; a small space remains between the two structures.
The Primary Ligament Attachments
The stability of the ovary is maintained by three distinct connective tissue structures that anchor it to surrounding organs and the pelvic wall. The ovarian ligament is a fibrous band extending from the lower pole of the ovary directly to the side of the uterus, below the fallopian tube connection point. It acts as a tensile anchor, limiting the ovary’s movement toward the center of the pelvis.
The suspensory ligament tethers the upper pole of the ovary to the lateral wall of the pelvis. This structure is a fold of peritoneum, providing significant lateral support. The third major attachment is the mesovarium, a short fold of the broad ligament that connects the ovary to its posterior surface. The mesovarium suspends the ovary from this large, double-layered sheet of peritoneum.
Vascular Supply and Supportive Tissue
The broad ligament is an expansive sheet of peritoneal tissue that drapes over the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, providing general support. The mesovarium, a specific section of this ligament, suspends the ovary and allows blood vessels and nerves to enter the organ at a central point called the hilum. This ensures the ovary has access to the nutrients required for its metabolic and hormonal activities.
The suspensory ligament plays a functional role that goes beyond simple physical anchoring, as it acts as the main conduit for the ovarian artery and vein. The ovarian artery, which branches directly from the abdominal aorta, travels downward through this ligament to supply oxygenated blood to the gonad. The corresponding ovarian vein also travels within the suspensory ligament, carrying deoxygenated blood away from the ovary. This arrangement makes the suspensory ligament a functional lifeline, linking the ovary to the body’s primary circulatory system.