Uterine appendages
A medical term for a body part
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The uterine appendages (or adnexa of uterus) are the structures most closely related structurally and functionally to the uterus.
| Uterine appendages | |
|---|---|
Schematic frontal view of female anatomy | |
 Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. (In this orientation, the contents "in front" of the broad ligament are posterior to it.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | adnexa uteri |
| MeSH | D000290 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Terminology
They can be defined in slightly different ways:
- Some sources define the adnexa as the fallopian tubes and ovaries.[1]
- Others include the supporting tissues".[2]
- Another source defines the appendages as the "regions of the true pelvis posterior to the broad ligaments".[3]
- One dictionary includes the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and ligaments (without specifying precisely which ligaments are included).[4]
Clinical significance
The term "adnexitis" is sometimes used to describe an inflammation of the uterine appendages (adnexa).[5] In this context, it replaces the terms oophoritis and salpingitis.
The term adnexal mass is sometimes used when the location of a uterine mass is not yet more precisely known.
63% of ectopic pregnancies present with an adnexal mass. Depending on the size of the mass, it could be a medical emergency.
The term "adnexectomy" in gynaecology is often used for salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of both: fallopian tubes and ovaries).
Additional images
Ovary
