Physiology of normal sexual function
Jacques Corcos, David Ginsberg, Gilles Karsenty in Textbook of the Neurogenic Bladder, 2015
The external genitalia of the female are collectively referred to as the vulva and include the mons veneris, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vulvovaginal glands (also called Bartholin’s glands), and the vestibule of the vagina (Figure 4.1a). The mons pubis, also called the mons veneris in females, is the soft tissue present in both sexes just above the genitals (above the vulva in females), raised above the surrounding area because of a pad of fat lying just beneath it, which protects the pubic bone. The labia majora are two prominent longitudinal cutaneous folds extend downward and backward from the mons pubis to the perineum. Each labium has two surfaces: an outer, pigmented and covered with hairs; and an inner, smooth and containing sebaceous glands, which render it moist. The labia minora are two smaller folds located medial to the labia majora and anteriorly surrounding the clitoris. In the anterior, each labium divides into two portions: the upper division passes above the clitoris, forming a fold extending beyond the clitoral glans (glans clitoridis), and named the preputium clitoridis; the lower division passes under the clitoral glans and forms the frenulum clitoridis. The labia minora surround a space, called the vestibule, into which the vagina and urethra open. These labia lack hair but have a large supply of venous sinuses, sebaceous glands, and nerves.
Anatomy of the vulva
Miranda A. Farage, Howard I. Maibach in The Vulva, 2017
The labia minora (nymphae) are two small cutaneous folds that are situated between the labia majora and the vaginal orifice. The labia minora are homologous to the penile urethra and part of the skin of the penis in males. Laterally, they extend obliquely from the clitoris toward the rear for approximately 4 cm on either side of the vaginal orifice. They are shorter and thinner than the labia majora. At the clitoris, the anterior portion of each labium minus divides into two segments. Each upper segment passes anteriorly to the clitoris to meet its fellow of the opposite side, forming a fold, the preputium clitoridis, which overhangs the glans of the clitoris. Each lower segment passes beneath the clitoris, joining with its fellow to form the frenulum, which is attached to the inferior surface of the clitoris. The posterior portions of the labia minora surround the vestibule of the vagina. Their posterior juncture is the fourchette.
The Reproductive System and Its Disorders
Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss in Understanding Medical Terms, 2020
On either side of the labia minora are the labia majora (singular: labium majus), elevations of skin and fatty tela subcutanea, the loose connective tissue beneath the skin. When the legs are close together, the labia majora touch medially to form the pudendal cleft. The labia majora are homologous to the male scrotum and enclose and protect the other external genital organs. Superior to the pudendal cleft is the mons pubis (commonly called the pubic mound), a rounded elevation of tissue similar to the labia majora and covering the symphysis pubis (the joint of the pubic bones; symphysis = "growing together"). After puberty, the mons pubis and labia majora become covered with short coarse pubic hairs.
Minimally invasive capillary blood sampling methods
Published in Expert Review of Medical Devices, 2023
Michael S. F. Hoffman, James W. McKeage, Jiali Xu, Bryan P. Ruddy, Poul M. F. Nielsen, Andrew J. Taberner
There has been significant research effort recently to improve the ease and comfort of penetration, including the design of microneedles for blood extraction inspired by arthropods, especially mosquitoes. The proboscis of a mosquito consists of a central labrum that pierces into the skin and a surrounding labium that provides lateral support. The labrum is comprised of multiple elements that move individually at different phases, producing vibratory reciprocating motions which advance incrementally in the tissue [57,58]. Micro-actuators have been developed in order to mimic the penetration of a mosquito’s proboscis [59]. Fabrication of structures emulating the labrum and surrounding structures has been demonstrated [60]. Work remains to be done to reinforce the structures to avoid buckling when attempting to pierce human skin.
Effects of anatomical location on in vivo percutaneous penetration in man
Published in Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2020
Jordan L. Bormann, Howard I. Maibach
Oriba et al.10 performed a tape-stripping study on pre- and post-menopausal females. Radiolabeled oestrogen and testosterone were applied to the mid-labium majus and the ventral forearm with protective chambers positioned over the application sites for 24 h. The sites were cleaned at 24 h and a covering was placed over the application sites for an additional six days. In pre-menopausal women, the tape-stripped forearm stratum corneum contained significantly more hydrocortisone than that measured from vulva. The tape-stripping method retrieved no testosterone from either the vulva or forearm10. This potentially suggests that testosterone was energetically metabolised by enzymes in the stratum corneum.
A rare case of primary vulvar endometriosis: case report and review of the literature
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2022
Marco Scioscia, Marco Noventa, Marcello Desgro, Loredana Iaria, Diana Sacchi, Bruna A. Virgilio
A primary vulvar lesion of endometriosis in a 15-year-old girl was reported by Su et al. (2004). The lesion presented as a cystic mass of 6 cm located within the left labium major and extended to the clitoris. This represents the youngest case of vulvar endometriosis in literature. Another case of primary para-clitoris endometriosis was described by Grimstad and Carey (2015) in a patient of 29 years. The lesion of the minor and major labia appeared as a cyst that continued monthly swelling until surgical removal. The lesion recurred 6 years later.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Adaptation
- Appendage
- Evolution
- Mandible
- Morphology
- Seta
- Tick
- Mosquito
- Antenna