Anatomy of the vulva

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the embryology and anatomy of the vulva in women of reproductive age. The vulva, or pudendum, is a collective term for the external female genital organs that are visible in the perineal area. Knowledge of the basic anatomy of the vulva is necessary in order to understand its physiology and appropriately recognize the wide spectrum of vulvar pathology. The anterior and posterior boundaries of the vulva extend from the mons pubis to the anus, respectively; its lateral boundaries lie at the genitocrural folds. The vulva consists of the mons pubis, the labia majora, the labia minora, the clitoris, the hymen, the vestibule of the vagina, the urethral orifice, Dr. Alexander J. C. Skene’s glands, Bartholin’s glands, and the vestibular bulbs. The labia minora are homologous to the penile urethra and part of the skin of the penis in males. The vestibule is derived from the endoderm, the lowest portion of the embryonic urogenital sinus.