Female genital anatomy

Vulva – external, outer part of female genitals

- Mons pubis
- Labia majora and minora – outer and inner lip folds
- Clitoris – dot near the top of the vagina
- Vestibule
- Urethral opening – above the
- Vaginal opening
- Perineal body
- Protects inner structures from bacteria, pressure, friction
- Physical pleasure – highly innervated with lots of sensory neurons
- Highly sensitive to touch

Mons pubis – also called mons Venus

- Pubis – in the pubic area

- Mound of fatty tissue covering pubic bone
- Provides padding
- Includes oil secreting glands
- Pubic hair
o Sexual communication – traps genital gland secretions and scent
o Protective padding
o Visual sign of sexual maturity

Labia Majora

- Labia – lips
- Most visual area
- Function is to protect the inner areas of the vulva
- Lots of sebaceous glands
- Fatty
- Fold over and closed when not sexually aroused
- Engorged with blood and swollen when aroused, start to separate (like leaf stomata!)

Labia Minora

- No hair
- Smaller, inner lips
- Different tissue from majora
- Also contains glands
- Very vascular – lots of blood vessels and nerve endings
- Not always symmetrical!
- Labiaplasty most common genital cosmetic surgery (usually to reduce length of labia minora),
can be either medically necessary or elective (cosmetic) – controversial
- Related to female genital mutilation
Clitoris

- Small rounded nub poking up from the hood

- Very hard to see