Which ligament is a winglike double fold of peritoneum that drapes over the fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, and blood vessels, extending from the lateral walls of the uterus to the sidewalls of the pelvis?

• A. Broad
• B. Cardinal
• C. Uterosacral
• D. Suspensory

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is pelvic ligament anatomy, focusing on peritoneal folds that suspend and organize the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The winglike double fold of peritoneum described is the broad ligament. It drapes over the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries and extends from the lateral walls of the uterus to the sidewalls of the pelvis, forming a wide, gynecoid fold that helps suspend these structures within the peritoneal cavity. Within it are the mesometrium, mesosalpinx, and mesovarium, which specifically relate to the uterus, tube, and ovary respectively.

Other structures mentioned are different kinds of supports. The cardinal ligaments are condensations of connective tissue (not peritoneum) that help support the uterus from the cervix to the pelvic sidewalls. The uterosacral ligaments stretch from the uterus toward the sacrum and provide posterior support. The suspensory ligament of the ovary is a peritoneal fold that carries the ovarian vessels to the ovary from the lateral abdominal wall, but it does not drape over the uterus, tubes, and ovaries in the same way the broad ligament does.