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AnatomyPelvis and perineumFemale pelvis and reproductive organsOvarian artery
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AnatomyPelvis and perineumFemale pelvis and reproductive organsOvarian artery

Ovarian artery

Author: Roberto Grujičić, MD • Reviewer: Declan Tempany, BSc (Hons)
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 3 minutes

Recommended video: Blood vessels of the female pelvis [19:24]
Arteries and veins of the female pelvis.
Ovarian artery (Arteria ovarica)

The ovarian artery is a long paired vessel that usually stems from the anterolateral aspect of the abdominal aorta. It courses through much of the abdomen and pelvis, ending in the suspensory ligament of ovary.

The male equivalent of the ovarian artery is the testicular artery. Together, these two arteries are referred to as the gonadal arteries. The ovarian artery provides blood supply for the ovary, ureter, and the uterine tube.

This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the ovarian artery.

Key facts about the ovarian artery
Origin Abdominal aorta
Branches Tubal branches, ovarian branches, ureteric branches
Supply Abdominal and/or pelvic ureter, ampullary end of uterine tube, ovary
Contents
  1. Course
  2. Branches and supply
  3. Anatomical variations
  4. Sources
+ Show all

Course

Left ovarian artery
Arteria ovarica sinistra
1/5
Synonyms: Left gonadal artery (female), Arteria gonadalis sinistra (feminina)

The ovarian arteries arise from the anterolateral aspects of the abdominal aorta, inferior to the origin of the renal arteries and superior to the inferior mesenteric artery, around the level of vertebra L2/L3. They run inferolaterally in the retroperitoneum; the right artery crosses anterior to the inferior vena cava, while the left one lies posterior to the inferior mesenteric artery.

Both arteries run anterior to the psoas major and the middle portion of the ureter which they usually supply. Upon crossing the pelvic brim (the edge of the pelvic inlet), they continue their course between the two layers of the suspensory ligament of ovary, towards the ovary. On their course, the arteries are accompanied by the ovarian veins.

Branches and supply

Ovary
Ovarium
1/3
Synonyms: none

On their course, the ovarian arteries give rise to several branches named after the structures for which they provide the blood supply. These branches include ureteric branches, tubal branches, and ovarian branches.

  • The ureteric branches usually supply the middle third of the ureter, including its pelvic and abdominal parts.
  • The tubal branches supply the ampullary end of the uterine (fallopian) tubes.
  • The ovarian branches provide arterial blood supply for the ovary. Ovarian and tubal branches form anastomoses with their counterpart branches of the uterine artery.

To learn more about the blood supply of the female pelvis, check out our other articles, videos, labeled diagrams and quizzes.

Blood supply of the female pelvis Explore study unit

Anatomical variations

Variations of origin are not uncommon in the ovarian arteries, most often in relation to vertebral level or parent artery. In approximately 10-20% of cases, they can originate from the renal arteries, on one side or on both. Less frequently, it can arise from suprarenal, inferior phrenic, superior mesenteric, lumbar, common iliac or internal iliac arteries.

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

References:

  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Netter, F. (2019). Atlas of Human Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
  • Tubbs, R. S., Shoja, M. M., Loukas, M., & Bergman, R. A. (2016). Bergman’s comprehensive encyclopedia of human anatomic variation. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell.
  • Sinnatamby, C.S., Last, R.J. (2006). Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone.

Illustrations:

  • Ovarian artery (Arteria ovarica) - Samantha Zimmerman

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