Medial umbilical ligament

Medial umbilical ligament
The peritoneum of the male pelvis. (Medial umbilical ligament labeled at bottom left.)
Posterior view of the anterior abdominal wall in its lower half. The peritoneum is in place, and the various cords are shining through.
Latin	chorda arteria umbilicalis; ligamentum umbilicale mediale
Gray's	subject #252 1213

The medial umbilical ligament (or cord of umbilical artery) is a paired structure found in human anatomy. It is on the deep surface of the anterior abdominal wall, and is covered by the medial umbilical folds (plica umbilicalis mediana).

Origins

It represents the remnant of the fetal umbilical arteries, which serves no purpose in humans after birth, except for the part that becomes the adult umbilical artery.

Functions

It may be used as a landmark for surgeons exploring the medial inguinal fossa during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Other than this, it has no purpose in an adult and it may be cut or damaged with impunity.

Relations

The supravesical fossa, and therefore a supravesical hernia, is medial to this structure. The medial inguinal fossa, and therefore a direct inguinal hernia, is lateral to it.

See also

• median umbilical ligament (which is a different structure)
• lateral umbilical ligament

External links

• Medial umbilical ligament
  • SUNY Figs 36:01-04 - "The inguinal canal and derivation of the layers of the spermatic cord."
  • SUNY Anatomy Image 7323
  • SUNY Anatomy Image 7577

• Medial umbilical fold
  • SUNY Figs 36:03-10 - "Internal surface of the anterior abdominal wall."

Additional images

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  Dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses.

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  Inguinal fossae