Medial umbilical folds

Last revised by Melbourne Uni Radiology Masters on 2 Aug 2021

The medial umbilical folds are bilateral raised ridges of parietal peritoneum in the deep aspect of the anterior abdominal wall formed by the underlying medial umbilical ligaments running from the pelvis to the umbilicus. The medial umbilical ligaments are anatomical remnants of the obliterated foetal umbilical arteries. The folds are 2 of the 5 umbilical folds and should not be confused with the single midline median umbilical fold.

The bilateral supravesical fossae lie between the median and bilateral medial umbilical folds. The medial fossae lie between the medial and lateral umbilical folds.

The medial umbilical folds are variably seen on CT depending on the density of the ligament and the amount of perivesical and intraperitoneal fat. These folds can be displaced laterally by a large amount of ascites.

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