Vulva

The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (plural vulvae, vulvas). In common speech, the term vagina is often used improperly to refer to the vulva or female genitals generally - even though strictly speaking the vagina is a specific internal structure and the vulva is the exterior genitalia only.

Structures


In human beings the vulva includes:
 * the labia, consisting of the labia majora and the labia minora
 * the external portion of the clitoris consisting of the clitoral glans, the clitoral hood, and the frenulum clitoridis
 * the vulval vestibule
 * the opening of the urethra (meatus) and
 * the hymen and the opening of the vagina,

The soft mound at the front of the vulva (fatty tissue covering the pubic bone) is the mons pubis, or specifically for human females, the mons veneris or "mound of Venus". After puberty it is covered with pubic hair, the amount being determined primarily by heredity. The labia majora or large lips extend on either side of the vulva, and are also covered with pubic hair. The labia majora entirely or partially hide the other parts of the vulva. The colour of the outside skin of the labia majora is usually close to the overall skin colour of the individual, although there is considerable variation. The inside skin and mucus membrane are often pink or brownish.

The labia minora are two soft folds of skin within the labia majora and to either side of the opening of the vagina. While labia majora and labia minora translate as "large" and "small" lips, often the "minora" can be larger, and protrude outside the "majora"). Between the labia minora is the vulval vestibule. The clitoris is at the front of the vulva where the labia minora meet. The visible tip of the clitoris, the clitoral glans is entirely or partially covered by a 'hood' of tissue (the clitoral hood).

Below the clitoris and just in front of the vagina is the urethral opening. This is where urine passes from the bladder to the outside of the body.

The opening of the vagina is near the back (or bottom) end of the vulva. In females who have not engaged in penetrative sex, the opening of the vagina is sometimes partly covered by a membrane called the hymen. The hymen may rupture spontaneously during exercise, or be so minor as to not be noticeable.

Slightly below and to the left and right of the vaginal opening are two Bartholin glands; when the female is sexually aroused, she produces vaginal lubrication which can allow for sexual stimulation and/or penetration.

The area between the vulva and the anus is the perineum. The perineum may tear during childbirth. To prevent this, a doctor may perform an episiotomy, surgically cutting the perineum, which some believe to be more sterile. However, some women report that a natural tear has a lower instance of infection and a quicker healing time.

The appearance of the vulva and the size of the various parts varies a great deal from one female to another, and it is common for the left and right sides to differ in appearance in an individual female.

Sexual homology
Most sex organs originate from the same tissues in the development of a fetus. The vulva is no different.

The anatomy of the vulva is related to the anatomy of the male genitalia by a common developmental biology. Organs that have a common developmental ancestry in this way are said to be homologous.

The clitoral glans is homologous to the glans penis in males, and the clitoral body and the clitoral crura, are homologous to the corpora cavernosa of the penis. The labia majora, labia minora and clitoral hood are homologous to the scrotum, shaft skin of the penis, and the foreskin, respectively. The vestibular bulbs beneath the skin of the labia minora are homologous to the corpus spongiosum, the tissue of the penis surrounding the urethra. The Bartholin's glands are homologous to Cowper's glands in males.

Etymology
The word "vulva" was taken from Middle Latin volva or vulva "womb, female genitals", probably from Latin volvere "to roll". Similar to Sanskrit ulva "womb".

Slang
As with nearly any aspect of the human body that is involved in sexual or excretory functions, there are many slang words for the vulva.


 * For slang terms for the "vulva", see WikiSaurus:female genitalia &mdash; the WikiSaurus list of synonyms and slang words for female genitalia in many languages.

Blemishes and Cysts

 * Epidermal Cysts
 * Angiomas
 * Moles
 * Freckles
 * Lentigos

Infections

 * Candidiasis (thrush)
 * Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
 * Warts (due to HPV or condyloma acuminata)
 * Molluscum contagiosum
 * Herpes Simplex (genital herpes)
 * Herpes Zoster (shingles)
 * Tinea (fungus)
 * Hidradenitis suppurativa

Inflammatory Diseases

 * Eczema/Dermatitis
 * Lichen simplex (chronic eczema)
 * Psoriasis
 * Lichen sclerosus
 * Lichen planus
 * zoons vulvitis (zoons balanitis in men)
 * Pemphigus vulgaris
 * Pemphigoid (mucous membrane pemphigoid, cicratricial pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid)

Pain Syndromes

 * Vulvodynia and vulvular vestibulitis
 * Vaginismus

Vulvar Cancer

 * Squamous cell carcinoma (the most common kind)
 * Basal cell carcinoma
 * Melanoma

Ulcers

 * Aphthous ulcer
 * Behcet's Disease

Developmental Disorders

 * Septate vagina
 * Vaginal opening extremely close to the urethra or anus
 * An imperforate hymen
 * Various stages of genital masculinization including fused labia, an absent or partially-formed vagina, urethra located on the clitoris.
 * Hermaphroditism

Other

 * Vulvar lymphangioma
 * Paget's disease
 * Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
 * Bowen's disease
 * Bowenoid papulosis
 * Vulvar varicose veins
 * Labial adhesions
 * Perineodynia (perineal pain)
 * Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis (DIV)
 * Childbirth tears and Episiotomy related changes

Altering the female genitalia
The most prevalent form of genital alteration in some countries is female genital cutting: removal of any part of the female genitalia for cultural, religious or other non-medical reasons. When performed on female minors these procedures can be highly controversial. In some cases, people elect to have their genitals pierced, tattooed or otherwise altered for aesthetic or other reasons. Female genital enhancement surgery includes laser resurfacing of the labia to remove wrinkles and clitoral repositioning for those not achieving optimum stimulation as well as labiaplasty and vaginal tightening.

Cultural attitudes
In some cultures, including modern Western culture, some women have shaved or otherwise depilated part or all of the vulva. This is a fairly recent phenomenon in the United States, but has been prevalent, usually in the form of waxing, in many eastern European and Middle Eastern cultures for centuries, usually for the purpose of hygiene. High-cut swimsuits compelled their wearers to shave the sides of their pubic triangles. Shaving may also include all or nearly all of the hair. Some styles retain a "racing stripe" (on either side of the labia) or "landing strip" (directly above and in line with the vulva). See the article on pubic hair.

Since the early days of Islam, Muslim women and men have followed a tradition to "pluck the armpit hairs and shave the pubic hairs". This is a preferred practice rather than an obligation, and could be carried out by shaving, waxing, trimming, or any other shaving method. This is a regular practice that is considered in some more devout Muslim cultures as a form of worship, not a shameful practice, while in other less devout regions it is a practice for the purpose of good hygiene. The reasons behind removing this hair could also be applied to the hair on the scrotum and around the anus, because the purpose is to be completely clean and pure and keep away from anything that may cause dirt and impurities according to Al-Munajjid, Sheikh Muhammad Saleh (Released 27th July 2004). "Islam Ruling on Shaving the Pubic Hair, Scrotum and Around the Anus".

Many cultures have commonly viewed the vulva as something shameful that should be hidden; for example, the term pudendum, which denotes the external genitalia, literally means "shameful thing." However, some cultures have celebrated and even worshipped the vulva; some Hindu sects revere it under the name yoni, and texts seem to indicate a similar attitude in some ancient Middle Eastern religions. As an aspect of Goddess worship such reverence may be part of modern Neopagan beliefs, and may be indicated in paleolithic artworks. Other cultures consider some or all parts of the vulva to be "unclean" and may go as far as to advocate female "circumcision".

Many sculptors and painters have chosen not to display vulvas in their works, even when depicting nude women. The pubic region was often covered with a piece of cloth, figleaf or a hand. When it was displayed or posed, it usually lacked pubic hair (see glabrousness) as well as the physical depiction of the vulva, irrespective of whether the vulva would actually be visible in that pose. In modern times Japanese anime artists often depict female characters without vulvas (even in hentai pornography) to comply with censorship laws.

As throughout history the actual or artistic display of vulvas was uncommon, aesthetic standards for the depiction of the vulva in the West developed after visual pornography became more widespread. Currently, color desaturation is often used to purge photographic images of pornographic associations.