THE SEXUAL ANATOMY OF WOMEN

THE SEXUAL ANATOMY OF WOMEN

The Vulva is the external sexual organ of women. There are many
questions about the vulva and this FAQ will begin to
attempt to answer some of these.


THE VOCABULARY OF THE VULVA

Vulva

The external female genitals are collectively referred to as The
Vulva. All of the words below are part of the vulva.

Mons Veneris.

The mons veneris, Latin for “hill of Venus” (Roman Goddess of love)
is the pad of fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone below the
abdomen but above the labia. The mons is sexually sensitive in some
women and protects the pubic bone from the impact of sexual
intercourse.

Labia Majora

The labia majora are the outer lips of the vulva, pads of fatty
tissue that wrap around the vulva from the mons to the perineum.
These labia are usually covered with pubic hair, and contain numerous
sweat and oil glands, and it has been suggested that the scent from
these are sexually arousing.

Labia Minora

The labia minora are the inner lips of the vulva, thin stretches of
tissue within the labia majora that fold and protect the vagina,
urethra, and clitoris. The appearance of labia minora can vary
widely, from tiny lips that hide between the labia majora to large
lips that protrude. The most common metaphor for the labia minora is
that of a flower. Both the inner and outer labia are quite sensitive
to touch and pressure.

Clitoris

The clitoris, a small white oval between the top of the labia minora
and the clitoral hood, is a small body of spongy tissue that is
highly sexually sensitive. The clitoris is protected by the prepuce,
or clitoral hood, a covering of tissue similar to the labia minora.
During sexual excitement, the clitoris may extend and the hood
retract to make the clitoris more accessible. Some clitorises are
very small; other women may have large clitorises that the hood does
not completely cover.

Urethra

The opening to the urethra is just below the clitoris. It is not
related to sex or reproduction, but is instead the passage for urine.
The urethra is connected to the bladder. Because the urethra is so
close to the anus, women should always wipe themselves from front to
back to avoid infecting the vagina and urethra with bacteria.

Hymen

The opening of the vagina in precoital women (i.e.