Abstract:

Objective　To explore the morphologic features of the umbilical ring (MU), the median umbilical ligament (MnU) and the medial umbilical ligament (MdU) under laparoscope.　Methods　463 patients undergone laparoscopic herniorrhaphy from 2006 to 2009 were collected. The various shapes of MnU and MdU terminated by MU were identified, and followed by the measurement and comparison of the width of MnU and MdU arising from the pelvis.　Results　Four types of umbilical ligaments could be identified as the follows: type I (22.2%, 103 cases), with independent convergence of MnU and MdU to MU; type II (43.6%, 202 cases), with the convergence of MnU and unilateral MdU before reaching MU which receiving another MdU independently; type III (20.7%, 96 cases), bilateral MdUs and MnU converged together before their reaching to MU; and type Ⅳ (13.5%, 6 cases), with no MnU. There was no age and sex difference of the width of MnU, however, the percentage of older aged patients with the MdU width of 2.0cm (46.6%) was lower than that of children patients (73.9%), and the percentage of male patients with the MdU width of 2.0cm (61.6%) was higher than that of female patients(41.4%).　Conclusions　Under the laparoscope, 4 convergence types of MnU and MdU can be identified. There are age and sex difference of the width of MdU, which is notable during the process of laparoscopic herniorrhaphy.

Key words: Median umbilical ligament, Medial umbilical ligament, Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy, Applied anatomy;