External Genitalia
Other Names: Vulva or Pudendum
Mons Pubis
Mons pubis is a rounded, fatty prominence anterior to the symphysis pubis, pubic tubercles and superior pubic rami. The eminence is formed by mass of fatty subcutaneous tissue, the amount of fat increases at puberty and decreases after menopause. It is continuous with the anterior abdominal wall and covered with coarse pubic hair after puberty. The hair bearing area has a nearly horizontal upper limit.
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Labia Majora
These are two thick prominent skin folds enclosing fat that pass inferoposteriorly from the mons pubis toward the anus and forms the lateral boundary of the pudendal cleft - indirectly provides protection for urethral and vaginal orifices. It is filled with fingerlike “digital process” of loose subcutaneous tissue containing fat and smooth muscle, the termination of the round ligament of the uterus. The external surface is covered with pigmented skin containing numerous sebaceous glands and crisp pubic hairs. The internal surface is smooth, pink and hairless.The large anterior ends are connected to each other to form anterior commissure and posteriorly, the ends are connected to form posterior commissure.
Labia Minora
It is a two folds of fat-free hairless skin enclosed in the pudendal cleft within the labia majora immediately surrounds the vestibule of the vagina. It possess a core of spongy connective tissue containing erectile tissue and many small blood vessels. The internal surface consists thin, moist skin containing many sebaceous glands and sensory nerve endings. Anteriorly the labia minora splits to form prepuce and encloses the clitoris. Posteriorly, the two labia minora join together to form the frenulum.
Clitoris
It is a erectile organ located where the labia minora meet anteriorly. It is homologous to the penis and similar to it in structure
- Root of the clitoris is made up of 3 masses of erectile tissue:
- Bulb of the vestibule – corresponds to the bulb of penis, but split into 2 halves by the vagina; covered by the bulbospongiosus muscles
- crura of the clitoris – correspond to the crura of the penis; covered by ischiocavernosus muscles; remain separate and become
- corpora cavernosa anteriorly
- Body of the clitoris
It consists of the 2 corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum
The glans of the clitoris is a small mass of erectile tissue capping the body of the clitoris partly hidden by the prepuce
Vestibule Of The Vagina
It is a space between the labia minora containg the openings of the urethra, vagina, and ducts of the greater and lesser vestibular glands. The external urethral opening (orifice) is located 2-3 cm posteroinferior to the glans of the clitoris and anterior to the vaginal orifice. On each side of the external urethral orifice paraurethral glands opens. The vaginal orifice lies posterior to the urethral opening. It is partly closed by the hymen (thin fold of mucous membrane) in virgin. The size and appearance of the vaginal orifice vary with condition of the hymen.
Bulbs Of The Vestibule
These are two masses of elongated erectile tissue lying along the sides of the vaginal orifice and urethral orifice. It is lies superficial to the perineal membrane. It is homologous with bulb of the penis and corpus spongiosum.
Vestibular Glands
- Greater vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands: these are glands corresponds to bulbourethral glands in male. The glands lie in the superficial perineal space. The ducts open into the vestibule on each side of the vaginal orifice. The glands secrete mucus into the vestibule during sexual arousal.
- Lesser vestibular glands: The ducts open into the vestibule between the urethral and vaginal orifices; secrete mucus that moistens the labia and vestibule.
Blood Supply, Lymphatic Drainage, and Nerve Supply of Clitoris is similar to those of the penis and that of labia majora is similar to those of the scrotum.
