Round Ligament of the Uterus: Radiological and Surgical Perspective

Aruna R. Patil, Harshita Ramamurthy
In: Indographics · 2025 · vol. 04(01) , pp. 008–021 · doi:10.1055/s-0044-1801327 · W4407095319
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This paper reviews the radiological and surgical perspectives of the round ligaments of the uterus, highlighting their role in uterine support and the underestimated impact of their pathological involvement.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-08 · read from full text ⓘ

This 2025 review discusses the uterine round ligaments as gubernaculum-derived fibromuscular cords that provide secondary uterine support, emphasizing their radiological and surgical implications and noting that pathological involvement is often underestimated. It synthesizes evidence that advances in imaging, visualization, and evaluation (including ultrasonography, MRI, and laparoscopy) have improved recognition of developmental anomalies and diseases affecting the round ligament and related pathways such as the canal of Nuck. A key caveat is that the paper is largely narrative, compiling reported findings and examples rather than presenting original study data with clearly defined inclusion criteria. Relevance to endometriosis: the paper’s references include “Deep pelvic endometriosis: don’t forget round ligaments” and other inguinal/round ligament endometriosis imaging literature, though the main focus is the anatomy and imaging/surgical evaluation of uterine round ligaments rather than endometriosis itself.

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Abstract

Abstract The round ligaments of the uterus are a pair of fibromuscular cord-like structures derived from the gubernaculum and serve as a secondary support system for the uterus. The round ligaments have varied clinical and surgical implications. The involvement of round ligaments by pathological processes is underestimated. Advancements in imaging, visualization, and evaluation of round ligaments have widened our understanding of various developmental anomalies and diseases, resulting in better prognostication and management.
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Abstract

The round ligaments of the uterus are a pair of fibromuscular cord-like structures derived from the gubernaculum and serve as a secondary support system for the uterus. The round ligaments have varied clinical and surgical implications. The involvement of round ligaments by pathological processes is underestimated. Advancements in imaging, visualization, and evaluation of round ligaments have widened our understanding of various developmental anomalies and diseases, resulting in better prognostication and management.

Keywords

round ligament - processus vaginalis - ultrasonography - magnetic resonance imaging - laparoscopy - canal of Nuck - leiomyoma - gubernaculumNote The round ligaments are a pair of fibromuscular cords that act as a secondary support to the uterus. Imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of pathologies of the round ligaments. Publication History Article published online: 03 February 2025 © 2025. Indographics. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India -

References

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