It is different from the median umbilical ligament, a structure that represents the remnant of the embryonic urachus.

It represents the remnant of the umbilical arteries, which serves no purpose in humans after birth, except for the initial part that becomes the adult superior vesical artery.

The medial umbilical ligament arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.

It may be used as a landmark for surgeons performing laparoscopic procedures to help identify and avoid damaging the inferior epigastric arteries during port placement.

Other than this, it has no purpose in an adult and it may be cut or damaged with impunity.