The cardinal ligament (transverse cervical ligament, Mackenrodt's ligament) is the thickened lateral endopelvic fascia forming the base of the broad ligament, connecting the lateral cervix and vagina to the lateral pelvic wall at the level of the internal iliac vessels.
Provides the primary lateral support of the cervix and upper vagina, contains the uterine artery and ureteral course, forms the surgical landmark for uterine artery ligation in hysterectomy, and contributes to uterine prolapse prevention.
The uterine artery crosses the ureter superiorly within the cardinal ligament (water under the bridge — the artery crosses over the ureter). This relationship is critical in hysterectomy — the ureter must be displaced laterally before clamping and dividing the cardinal ligament to avoid ureteral injury.
The uterine artery crosses over the ureter within the cardinal ligament — the ureter must be identified and medially displaced before cardinal ligament clamping to prevent the most common hysterectomy complication.
Progressive cardinal ligament attenuation producing uterine descent, managed by cardinal ligament reattachment (Manchester repair), uterosacral suspension, or hysterectomy with vault suspension.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
