The Female External Genital Organs

The ovaries | Main Anatomy Index | Male internal genital organs

Last updated 30 March 2006

The Female External Genital Organs

Click here for a schematic diagram of the female external genitalia.

The Mons Pubis

• The mons (L. mountain) pubis is a rounded fatty elevation located anterior to the pubic symphysis and lower pubic region.
• It consists mainly of a pad of fatty connective tissue deep to the skin.

• The amount of fat increases during puberty and decreases after menopause.
• The mons pubis becomes covered with coarse pubic hairs during puberty, which also decrease after menopause.

• The typical female distribution of pubic hair has a horizontal superior limit across the pubic region.

The Labia Majora

• The labia (L. large lips) are two symmetrical folds of skin, which provide protection for the urethral and vaginal orifices.
• These open into the vestibule of the vagina.

• Each labium majus, largely filled with subcutaneous fat, passes posteriorly from the mons pubis to about 2.5 cm from the anus.
• They are situated on each side of the pudendal cleft, which is the slit between the labia majora into which the vestibule of the vagina opens.
• The labia majora meet anteriorly at the anterior labial commissure.

• They do not join posteriorly but a transverse bridge of skin called the posterior labial commissure passes between them.

The Labia Minora

• The labia minora (L. small lips) are thin, delicate folds of fat-free hairless skin.
• They are located between the labia majora.

• The labia minora contain a core of spongy tissue with many small blood vessels but no fat.
• The internal surface of each labium minus consists of thin skin and has the typical pink colour of a mucous membrane.
• It contains many sensory nerve endings.

• Sebaceous and sweat glands open on both of their surfaces.

• The labia minora enclose the vestibule of the vagina and lie on each side of the orifices of the urethra and vagina.
• They meet just superior to the clitoris to form a fold of skin called the prepuce (clitoral hood).

• In young females the labia minora are usually united posteriorly by a small fold of the skin, the frenulum of the labia minora.

The Vestibule of the Vagina

• The vestibule (L. vestibulum, antechamber) is the space between the labia minora.
• The urethra, vagina, and ducts of the greater vestibular glands open into the vestibule.

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The External Urethral Orifice

• This median aperture is located 2 to 3 cm posterior to the clitoris and immediately anterior to the vaginal orifice.
• On each side of this orifice are the openings of the ducts of the paraurethral glands (Skene's glands).
• These glands are homologous to the prostate in the male.

The Vaginal Orifice

• This large opening is located inferior and posterior to the much smaller external urethral orifice.
• The size and appearance of the vaginal orifice varies with the condition of the hymen (G. membrane), a thin fold of mucous membrane that surrounds the vaginal orifice.

The Greater Vestibular Glands

• These glands are about 0.5 cm in diameter.
• They are located on each side of the vestibule of the vagina, posterolateral to the vaginal orifice.

• They are round or oval in shape and the bulbs of the vestibule partly overlap them posteriorly.
• From the anterior parts of the glands, slender ducts pass deep to the bulbs of the vestibule and open into the vestibule of the vagina on each side of the vaginal orifice.
• These glands secrete a small amount of lubricating mucus into the vestibule of the vagina during sexual arousal.

• The greater vestibular glands (Bartholin's glands) are homologous with the bulbourethral glands in the male.

The Lesser Vestibular Glands

• These are small glands on each side of the vestibule of the vagina.
• They open into it between the urethral and vaginal orifices.

• These glands also secrete mucus into the vestibule, which moistens the labia and the vestibule.

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The Clitoris

• The clitoris is 2 to 3 cm in length.
• It is homologous with the penis and is an erectile organ.
• Unlike the penis, the clitoris is not traversed by the urethra; therefore it has no corpus spongiosum.

• The clitoris is located posterior to the anterior labial commissure, where the labia majora meet.
• It is usually hidden by the labia when it is flaccid.

• The clitoris consists of a root and a body that are composed of two crura, two corpora cavernosa, and a glans.

• It is suspended by a suspensory ligament.
• The parts of the labia minora passing anterior to the clitoris form the prepuce of the clitoris (homologous with the male prepuce).
• The parts of the labia passing posterior to the clitoris form the frenulum of the clitoris, which is homologous with the frenulum of the penile prepuce.

• The clitoris, like the penis, it will enlarge upon tactile stimulation, but it does not lengthen significantly.
• It is highly sensitive and very important in the sexual arousal of a female.

The Bulbs of the Vestibule

• These are 2 large, elongated masses of erectile tissue that are about 3 cm in length.
• They lie along the sides of the vaginal orifice, deep to the bulbospongiosus muscles and are homologous with the bulb of the penis.
• Unlike the penis, however, the bulbs are separated from the clitoris and are separated by the vestibule of the vagina.

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Arterial Supply of the Female External Genitalia

• The rich arterial supply to the vulva is from two external pudendal arteries and one internal pudendal artery on each side.

• The internal pudendal artery supplies the skin, sex organs, and the perineal muscles.
• The labial arteries are branches of the internal pudendal artery, as are the dorsal and deep arteries of the clitoris.

Venous Drainage of the Female External Genitalia

• The labial veins are tributaries of the internal pudendal veins and venae comitantes of the internal pudendal artery.

Lymph Drainage of the Female External Genitalia

• The vulva contains a very rich network of lymphatic channels.
• Most lymph vessels pass to the superficial inguinal lymph nodes and deep inguinal nodes.

Innervation of the Female External Genitalia

• The nerves to the vulva are branches of:

1. The ilioinguinal nerve;
2. The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve;
3. The perineal branch of the femoral cutaneous nerve;
4. And the perineal nerve.

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