Fig. 3.

The supporting system. A shows the vessels of the supporting system following development of the paravesical and pararectal spaces with the uterine artery excised. B shows a severed end of the supporting system on the pelvic wall. The vesicohypogastric fascia, TCL and lateral rectal ligament constitute one lamina (Figs. A and C). Shown in C is the supporting system that is viewed from the pubic aspect following excavation of the paravesical space. Shown in D is also the supporting system viewed from a sacral aspect following excavation of the pararectal space. A and B show modified versions of original figures from an article by Yabuki, et al. (1991) and C and D from an article by Yabuki, et al. (2005). a; uterus, b; bladder, f; ureter, g; uterine artery, h; deep uterine vein, n; Latzko’s pararectal space (upper portion), o; common iliac vessels, p; internal iliac vessels, q; paravesical space, w; paracolpium, x; tendinous arc of the pelvic fascia, y; supporting system, aa; middle vesical vessels, bb; middle rectal vessels, cc; PSN, dd; hypogastric nerve, ee; IHP, ff; lateral stump of the tendinous arc of the pelvic fascia and sacrospinous ligament complex, uu; pelvic side wall.