Purpose
The vulva is the outer part of the female genitals. It can be examined but many women find it uncomfortable to see their external genitals. It’s rare for one to not know the shape of their eyes, nose, and lips but many answers they “don’t know” the appearance of their vulva. Take the time to frequently examine and find out about the vulva which is part of your body. Understanding your body is helpful for self-reflection and it is an important task that directly relates to health problems. Let’s find out what each part of your external genitalia looks like and what they do through this document, to discover your own personality.
Learning About Vulva
1. What is the vulva?
The vulva is the external genitalia between your legs. The vulva protects the internal genitals from exterior stimulation and creates sexual arousal in terms of sexual functions. The vulva is also known as the cunnus, vagina, and private parts.
2. Anatomy of the Vulva
- Labia Majora
The labia protects the inner, sensitive area. The outer labia among the two layers of the labia is known as the labia majora. The labia majora is covered in dark skin and has sweat glands and sebaceous glands like normal skin, and thick hairs grow on it after puberty.
- Labia Minora
Labia minora is inside the labia majora and covers the vagina and urethra. Some people’s labia majora are exposed while some are not. Labia minora is lined with a mucous membrane and is kept moist by fluid secreted by specialized cells. Thus, it is thinner than the labia majora and very sensitive.
- Vaginal Opening
There are two holes in the vulval vestibule seen when parting the labia minora. These are the urethra and vaginal opening. The vaginal opening is easy to find as it is located below the urethra and is larger. The vagina is where blood leaves your body during menstruation and allows penetrative intercourse and childbirth. When aroused, the Bartholin’s glands next to the vaginal opening produce fluid that acts as a lubricant in intercourse.
- Clitoris
The clitoris slightly protrudes at the top end of the labia minora. This part is known as the glans clitoris and it is only a small part of the clitoris with a larger spongy body inside. The exposed shape and size vary by individual. Clitoris is a homologous organ to a male’s penis and can erect immediately as it is very sensitive to sexual stimulation. Clitoris has more than 8,000 nerve endings and is 50 times more sensitive than the glans penis as nerve endings are concentrated in a smaller area.
Summary
- You can find out more about yourself by examining your body and your genitalia.
- Vulva consists of labia majora, labia minora, the vaginal opening, and the clitoris.
