Quick Facts
Origin: Uterine artery.
Course: Ascends on the lateral aspect of the uterine body.
Branches: Arcuate arteries, ovarian branch of the uterine artery, and tubal branch of the uterine artery.
Supplied Structures: Uterus, uterine tube, and ovary.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
It originates at junction of the cervix and uterus as the uterine artery bifurcates into an ascending and a descending branch.
Course
It ascends along the lateral aspect of the uterine body within the broad ligament and is characterized by a highly tortuous appearance.
At the level of the ovarian ligament (near the uterotubal junction), the ascending artery divides into its two terminal ovarian and tubal branches.
Branches
As the artery ascends along the lateral aspect of the uterine body, it gives off the arcuate arteries.
It divides into terminal branches before it reaches the uterotubal junction. These are the ovarian branch of the uterine artery and tubal branch of the uterine artery.
Supplied Structures
The arcuate arteries supply the uterus while the ovarian branch and the tubal branch contribute to ovarian and tubal vasculature, respectively.
