Ovarian artery

Ovarian artery is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary in females. It is a paired structure, with one artery present on each side of the body. The ovarian arteries are part of the abdominal aorta, and they are the female equivalent of the testicular artery in males.

Anatomy

The ovarian arteries originate from the abdominal aorta below the renal artery. They run a tortuous course through the pelvis, crossing over the ureter and the internal iliac artery. The arteries then pass through the suspensory ligament of the ovary to reach the ovary.

At the ovary, the ovarian artery anastomoses with the ovarian branch of the uterine artery. This anastomosis provides a collateral blood supply to the ovary, which is important during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Clinical significance

The ovarian artery is a significant structure in several medical procedures and conditions. For example, in ovarian artery embolization, a procedure used to treat ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, the ovarian artery is deliberately blocked to cut off the blood supply to the abnormal growths.

In addition, the ovarian artery can be affected by atherosclerosis, which can lead to ischemia of the ovary. This can cause ovarian pain and, in severe cases, ovarian necrosis.

See also

• Abdominal aorta
• Renal artery
• Uterine artery
• Ovarian artery embolization

References

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  Ovarian artery and its branches

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  Ovarian artery in sheep

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  Diagram of the arteries of the pelvis

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  The abdominal aorta and its branches

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  The arteries of the female pelvis