In a pregnant woman with dull pelvic pain, what ligament is primarily responsible for the pain due to stretching?

The round ligament is primarily responsible for the dull pelvic pain experienced by a pregnant woman due to stretching. During pregnancy, the uterus expands significantly as the fetus grows, leading to tension and stretching on the round ligaments. These ligaments originate from the uterus and extend through the inguinal canal to the labium majus. Their function is to help maintain the position of the uterus. As the uterus enlarges, the stretching of the round ligaments can lead to discomfort or pain, commonly referred to as round ligament pain.

This type of pain is usually characterized as a dull, aching sensation that may be exacerbated by certain movements, such as standing up quickly or changing positions. Understanding the role of the round ligament in this context helps explain why it is the structure chiefly associated with the pelvic pain experienced during pregnancy. Other ligaments mentioned, while important in pelvic anatomy, are not primarily responsible for this specific type of pain due to the conditions of pregnancy.