Vascular Pathways Supplied by Uterine Arteries

Description

Arising from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery, each uterine artery courses medially within the base of the broad ligament toward the cervix, then turns superiorly to ascend along the lateral uterine wall. Anteriorly, arcuate arteries sweep circumferentially through the myometrium and give off radial branches that run toward the endometrium, where they divide into straight (basal) arteries and coiled spiral arteries supplying the functional layer. Anastomoses with the ovarian artery lie near the uterine fundus, creating a collateral arcade at the superolateral uterine margin. Venous channels are typically shown as accompanying plexiform vessels, closely applied to the uterus. This arterial map matters most when you are thinking about bleeding. Spiral arteries are the source of menstrual shedding and a major contributor to postpartum hemorrhage when uterine atony prevents physiologic compression of myometrial vessels. Uterine artery ligation or selective uterine artery embolization targets the proximal uterine artery and its distal bed to control hemorrhage and shrink leiomyomas, while the fundal anastomosis with the ovarian artery explains occasional treatment failure and guides preservation of ovarian perfusion. A surgical landmark sits at the cervix: the uterine artery crosses superior to the ureter (water under the bridge), a common site of iatrogenic ureteric injury in hysterectomy. Use this artwork in reproductive anatomy and pelvic surgery teaching, in obstetrics modules covering postpartum hemorrhage, and in gynecology publications discussing fibroids, adenomyosis, or uterine artery embolization technique and outcomes. It also fits patient-facing diagrams for abnormal uterine bleeding when you want the functional layer’s blood supply made explicit. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.