Uterine artery

Last revised by Dennis Odhiambo Agolah on 15 Nov 2022

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

Related pathology

With large uterine fibroids, the helicine branches of the uterine artery are stretched and lose their corkscrew appearance (see image).

Uterine artery embolization is a common endovascular procedure used to treat a variety of conditions, including postpartum hemorrhage and fibroids. Due to the rich collateral supply of the uterus, uterine necrosis from uterine artery embolization is rare.

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