A paired organ of the shape and size of an almond and approximally vertical in position, the ovary is accomodated in the depression with peritoneal lining on the lateral side of the pelvis, formed by the external and internal iliac arteries (branches of the common iliac artery). The ureter, which is separated from the ovary only by the peritoneum, is also related to the angular space formed by the iliac arteries. The medial surface of the ovary is related to the small intestine. The anterior border (margo mesovaricus) is attached to the postero-dorsal lamina of the broad ligament through a short peritoneal duplicature (mesovarium. The posterior border is free (margo liber). The superior pole (extremitas tubaria) is related to the abdominal end of the oviduct, arching over the ovary. The inferior pole (extremitas uterina) is attached to the body of uterus through the poper ovarian ligament. Ampullar part of the oviduct passes on the lateral side of the pelvis in front of the ovary upwards in a vertical direction.
Although the ovary is considered an intraperitonal organ, it only has a peritoneal duplicature but its surface is not covered by peritoneum. The serrated white line of attachment (a.k.a. line of Farré) of the latter along the margo mesovaricus forms a visible line of transition into the cuboidal epithelium (termed germinal epithelium) of the ovarian surface. This epithelium has nothing to do with germ cells, yet its name survived for reasons of tradition. Of all intraperitoneal organs, the ovary is the only one that is not delineated by peritoneum from the free abdominal cavity. Thus, during ovulation, the mature egg reaches the free abdominal space before getting swept in by the ciliated epithelium of the oviduct, arching over the ovary. Should the activity of cilia fail, and the egg be fertilized, extrauterine gravidity may be the outcome. In girls before puberty, the surface of the ovary is smooth, however, after the onset of menstrual cycle (menarche) it becomes pitted due to minute scars persisting after repeated ovulations.
Blood supply of the ovary comes from the ovarian artery, branching off from the abdominal aorta below the level of renal arteries. The ovarian artery descends retroperitoneally to the pelvic brim (border between the greater and lesser pelvis) and then, raising a fold of parietal peritoneum termed the suspensory ligament it reaches the upper pole of the ovary, coming in contact along the mesovarian border with the ovarian ramus of the uterine artery. The branches arising form this anastomosis supply the organ through the hilum, situated on the margo mesovaricus. Venous blood is returned via the ovarian veins in the suspensory ligament retroperitoneally, to the inferior vena cava on the right side, and to the left renal vein on the left side. Lymphatic drainage of the organ is passing along the blood vessels mainly to the paraaortic lymph nodes.
Utolsó módosítás: 2014. February 12., Wednesday, 09:57
