The vulva is the outside part of the female genital (where your clothes touch your skin). The vagina is the passage inside the body that connects the uterus to the vulva.
THE MAIN STRUCTURES OF THE VULVA ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Mons pubis​
Labia majora
Labia minora
The glans clitoris (the part of the clitoris that is visible)
The clitoral hood or prepuce
The vestibule
The opening of the urethra
The perineum (the area between the vestibule and the anus)
THE CLITORIS:
The clitoris has one purpose: sexual pleasure!
The glans clitoris is the tip of the clitoris and is the only visible part of the clitoris. The glans is partially covered by the clitoral hood or prepuce.
THE PARTS OF THE CLITORIS THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE ARE:
The clitoral body: It is 2 to 4 cm in length and is connected to the pubic bone with a ligament.
The root of the clitoris: The root connects the clitoral body with the crura. It is very important for sensation because it is situated under the skin and right above the urethra.
The crura: The outside arms of the clitoris are 5 to 9 cm in length, each on one side beneath the labia majora.
The clitoral bulbs: The inside arms of the clitoris are 3 tot 7 cm in length and are in contact with the outside of the urethra and vaginal.
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Because the clitoris is so intimate with the urethra and the vagina, this zone is also called the clito-urethro-vaginal complex.
THE VESTIBULE:
The junction between the vagina and the vulva is the vestibule. The opening of the urethra is localized in the vestibule. It is a mucosa with no hair or sebum. It contains multiple glands: a pair of Skene’s glands at the top, a pair of Bartholin’s glands at the bottom and multiple smaller vestibular glands around the vaginal opening. The glands contribute a small amount of lubrication.
Vulva
Vagina
The vagina is lined with mucosa. The mucosa is arranged in accordion-like folds, also called rugae. The mucosa sits atop a layer of smooth muscle. The smooth muscle is a type of muscle that is not under voluntary control. The smooth muscle of the vagina is surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
WHAT IS A HEALTHY VAGINA?
A vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Indeed, it cleans itself without any outside help. The vagina is the host to a variety of bacteria and fungi that keep it healthy. These tiny organisms live together in a delicate ecosystem, also called the microbiome or the vaginal flora. When there is a right balance between these vaginal organisms (especially a lot of ‘lactobacilli’, also called the ‘good’ bacteria), the vagina is infection-free. A vaginal imbalance of bacteria or an overgrowth of fungi can lead to an infection.