Understanding the anatomy of the vulva can be a powerful tool for communication and self-advocacy. It empowers us to express our needs to sexual partners as well as medical professionals alike. So let’s start by demystifying the not-so-mystical vulva. Consider this your vulva 101, covering everything you need to know but weren’t taught in school.Important Note: In casual conversation, the vulva and the vagina often get mixed up. Here’s the difference: the vulva is the external area, which includes the labia, and the vagina is the internal area, which connects the vulva to the uterus.
Vulva Anatomy, Term by Term
Mons Pubis
This is the mound at the top, where pubic hair can sway in the summer breeze (if that’s your style).
Clitoris
A complex organ made of many parts—the visible glans clitoris is just the tip of the iceberg. The clitoris, with an overall size of 9–11 cm, includes the external glans, the hood, an internal body, the root, the crura and bulbs. Not until 1998 did urologist Helen O’Connell first share the clitoris’s full internal structure. Though the penis and the clitoris develop from the same tissue in utero, the clitoris has 10 000 nerve endings, twice that of a penis).
Labia Majora
The outer skin folds extending from the mons pubis are called the labia majora. From an evolutionary standpoint, they are meant to cushion and protect, resulting in their plump appearance. The labia majora have many sensory nerve endings, so it is important to make sure to stimulate them during sexual experiences—yes, even before the vagina! Everyone’s labia are different, and no one has symmetrical labia.
Labia Minora
The inner labia are called the labia minora. They have fatty tissue and are much thinner than the labia majora. These begin at the clitoral hood and flow below the vagina. Their colour varies from dark brown to pink, and their texture varies from super smooth to wrinkled. It’s also normal to see raised dots since there are oil glands here. For most people, the labia minora are obvious and extend past the labia majora; for others, they are hardly visible. Much like the labia majora, no two are alike. For stimulation, keep in mind that the inner labia are sensitive due to their blood supply; they swell when aroused.
Perineum
This is the area between the vaginal opening and the anus, located closest to the ground when sitting.
Vulvar Vestibule
When parting the inner labia, there is a bit between the labia, the vaginal opening and the urethral opening. This is the vestibule. It’s the landscape that extends from Hart’s line to the opening of the hymen. You may have felt this during sex. At the opening of the vulvar vestibule, you’ll find both major and lesser glands. Many kinds of sexual and vulva pain can originate from the vulvar vestibule.
Hart’s line
This line marks the outer edge of the vulvar vestibule.
Bartholin’s Glands
The major glands of the vulvar vestibule. They open into the vestibule and open, at roughly the 4:00 and 8:00 positions on a clock. These glands are important to know because sometimes they can develop cysts, causing pain.
Skene’s glands
The lesser glands of the vulvar vestibule. Skene’s glands extend out on either side of the urethra, comprising around one-third of the fluid produced during arousal. It’s believed that the liquid produced when squirting originates here. Skene’s glands have a counterpart in the penis called Cowper’s glands, which release pre-ejaculate.
Urethra
The tiny hole beneath the clitoris for urine flow, distinct from the vaginal opening. The tube of the urethra carries urine from the bladder to the outside of your body. Consider this hole #1!
Vaginal opening
The “second” hole of the vulva is the opening for the vagina, the canal that stretches from the hymen to the cervix (the canal of the uterus). It contains few nerve endings, especially when compared to the clitoris. The vaginal walls, consisting of muscle and a mucous membrane, typically touch unless an object is inserted.. The vagina is super-stretchy thanks to its ridges called rugae, which function like pleats of extra tissue that allow the vagina to expand. The wetness or dryness of the vagina varies depending on a person’s menstrual cycle and age. The tissue of the vaginal wall changes as hormones fluctuate in the menstrual cycle. Cells in the outer layers store glycogen to help maintain the PH level and protect the vagina from bacteria and fungi. The vagina acts as a physical barrier to the uterus, protecting it from pathogenic microorganisms.
Anus
For our discussion, this is designated hole #3!
Hymen
The thin mucous ring which forms at the vaginal entrance. While most hymens have one or multiple holes, some may cover the entire opening, necessitating medical support during menstruation. Hymens naturally tear and decrease over time, becoming a perforated ring around the vaginal opening. Some people are even born without a hymen altogether. Though the hymen is the most written-about part of the vulva’s anatomy, its function is minimal and unrelated to the heteronormative concept of virginity.
Conclusion: One More Vulva Fact
Did you know the vulva and vagina share structural similarities with the throat? Plus, they’re linked by the body’s largest nerve, the vagus nerve. Roughly 80 to 90 per cent of the vagus nerve is dedicated to sensory information related to movement, stimulation, and relaxation.As people vocalise their needs, they can alleviate tension and anxiety. Understanding their needs allows people to drop into their bodies and feel more pleasure.
Sources
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/30/most-britons-cannot-name-parts-vulva-survey
