[Pectineal ligament of Cooper. Micromorphometric study]

The pectineal ligament is used in surgery as a support element in the treatment of groin hernias and female urinary stress incontinence. The question is to determine the anatomical characters that account for its strength. Three complementary approaches have been considered: an anatomical dissection study established the origin of the different fibers the ligament is composed of; a morphometric study determined the areas where the ligament is the thickest; and microscopic anatomy clearly showed the arrangement of the fibers. The pectineal ligament continues the near-by fibers fibrous elements, notably thanks to its ends. The latter are significantly thicker. At microscopic level, the regular layout of the pectineal ligament fibers accounts for its resistance.