Labia majora
Overview
The labia majora are two prominent longitudinal
cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis
to the perineum
and form the lateral boundaries of the pudendal cleft, which contains the labia minora
, interlabial sulci
, clitoral hood
, clitoral glans
, frenulum clitoridis
, the Hart's Line
, and the vulval vestibule
, which contains the external openings of the urethra
and the vagina
.
Each labium majus has two surfaces, an outer, pigmented and covered with strong, crisp hairs; and an inner, smooth and beset with large sebaceous follicles.
Between the two there is a considerable quantity of areolar tissue, fat
, and a tissue resembling the dartos tunic of the scrotum
, besides vessels, nerves, and glands.
The Labia Majora are thicker in front, where they form by their meeting the anterior commisure of the labia majora.
Posteriorly they are not really joined, but appear to become lost in the neighboring integument, ending close to — and nearly parallel with — each other.
Together with the connecting skin between them, they form the posterior commisure of the labia majora or posterior boundary of the pudendum.
The interval between the posterior commissure of the labia majora and the anus
, from 2.5 to 3 cm.
Anatomical terms of location
Standard anatomical terms of location are designations employed in science that deal with the anatomy of animals to avoid ambiguities that might otherwise arise. They are not language-specific, and thus require no translation...
cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis
Mons pubis
In human anatomy or in mammals in general, the mons pubis , also known as the mons veneris or simply the mons, is the adipose tissue lying above the pubic bone of adult females, anterior to the pubic symphysis...
to the perineum
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
and form the lateral boundaries of the pudendal cleft, which contains the labia minora
Labia minora
The labia minora , also known as the inner labia, inner lips, or nymphae, are two flaps of skin on either side of the human vaginal opening, situated between the labia majora...
, interlabial sulci
Interlabial sulci
The interlabial sulci are the grooves between the labia majora and the labia minora. The singular for this term is interlabial sulcus, of which there is a left and a right....
, clitoral hood
Clitoral hood
In female human anatomy, the clitoral hood, , is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoral glans. It develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin in male genitals.-Variation:This is a protective hood of skin that covers the clitoral glans...
, clitoral glans
Clitoral glans
The clitoral glans is an external portion of the clitoris.- Anatomy :It is covered by the clitoral hood, which is also external and attached to the labia minora...
, frenulum clitoridis
Frenulum clitoridis
The Frenulum clitoridis is a frenulum on the under-surface of the clitoral glans, created by the two medial parts of the labia minora.-External links:...
, the Hart's Line
Hart's Line
The Hart's Line is the edge of the vulval vestibule.To its left and right are the labia minora. Anterior to it are the clitoral hood, clitoral frenulum, and the clitoral glans. Posterior to it is the posterior commisure of the labia minora and the frenulum labiorum pudendi.The sides of the...
, and the vulval vestibule
Vulval vestibule
The Vulval vestibule is a part of the vulva between the labia minora into which the urethral opening and the vaginal opening open...
, which contains the external openings of the urethra
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
and the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
.
Each labium majus has two surfaces, an outer, pigmented and covered with strong, crisp hairs; and an inner, smooth and beset with large sebaceous follicles.
Between the two there is a considerable quantity of areolar tissue, fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
, and a tissue resembling the dartos tunic of the scrotum
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
, besides vessels, nerves, and glands.
The Labia Majora are thicker in front, where they form by their meeting the anterior commisure of the labia majora.
Posteriorly they are not really joined, but appear to become lost in the neighboring integument, ending close to — and nearly parallel with — each other.
Together with the connecting skin between them, they form the posterior commisure of the labia majora or posterior boundary of the pudendum.
The interval between the posterior commissure of the labia majora and the anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
, from 2.5 to 3 cm.
