Contents
-SUBJECT INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
-ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Henry Gray (1825–1861). Anatomy of the Human Body. 1918.
3d. 5. The External Organs
(Partes Genitales Externæ Muliebres)
The
external genital organs (Fig. 1171) of the female are: the
mons pubis, the
labia majora et minora pudendi, the
clitoris, the
vestibule of the vagina, the
bulb of the vestibule, and the
greater vestibular glands. The term
pudendum or
vulva, as generally applied, includes all these parts.
1
The
Mons Pubis (
commissura labiorum anterior; mons Veneris), the rounded eminence in front of the pubic symphysis, is formed by a collection of fatty tissue beneath the integument. It becomes covered with hair at the time of puberty.
2
The
Labia Majora (
labia majora pudendi) are two prominent longitudinal cutaneous folds which extend downward and backward from the mons pubis and form the lateral boundaries of a fissure or cleft, the
pudendal cleft or
rima, into which the vagina and urethra open. Each labium has two surfaces, an outer, pigmented and covered with strong, crisp hairs; and an inner, smooth and beset with large sebaceous follicles. Between the two there is a considerable quantity of areolar tissue, fat, and a tissue resembling the dartos tunic of the scrotum, besides vessels, nerves, and glands. The labia are thicker in front, where they form by their meeting the
anterior labial commissure. Posteriorly they are not really joined, but appear to become lost in the neighboring integument, ending close to, and nearly parallel with, each other. Together with the connecting skin between them, they form the
posterior labial commissure or posterior boundary of the pudendum. The interval between the posterior commissure and the anus, from 2.5 to 3 cm. in length, constitutes the
perineum. The labia majora correspond to the scrotum in the male.
3
FIG. 1171– External genital organs of female. The labia minora have been drawn apart. (See enlarged image)
The
Labia Minora (
labia minora pudendi; nymphæ) are two small cutaneous folds, situated between the labia majora, and extending from the clitoris obliquely downward, lateralward, and backward for about 4 cm. on either side of the orifice of the vagina, between which and the labia majora they end; in the virgin the posterior ends of the labia minora are usually joined across the middle line by a fold of skin, named the
frenulum of the labia or
fourchette. Anteriorly, each labium minus divides into two portions: the upper division passes above the clitoris to meet its fellow of the opposite side, forming a fold which overhangs the glans clitoridis, and is named the
preputium clitoridis; the lower division passes beneath the clitoris and becomes united to its under surface, forming, with its fellow of the opposite side, the
frenulum of the clitoris. On the opposed surfaces of the labia minora are numerous sebaceous follicles.
4
The
Clitoris is an erectile structure, homologous with the penis. It is situated beneath the anterior labial commissure, partially hidden between the anterior ends of the labia minora. It consists of two corpora cavernosa, composed of erectile tissue enclosed in a dense layer of fibrous membrane, united together along their medial surfaces by an incomplete fibrous pectiniform septum; each corpus is connected to the rami of the pubis and ischium by a crus; the
free extremity (
glans clitoridis) is a small rounded tubercle, consisting of spongy erectile tissue, and highly sensitive. The clitoris is provided like the penis, with a suspensory ligament, and with two small muscles, the Ischiocavernosi, which are inserted into the crura of the clitoris.
5
The Vestibule (vestibulum vaginæ).—The cleft between the labia minora and behind the glans clitoridis is named the
vestibule of the vagina: in it are seen the urethral and vaginal orifices and the openings of the ducts of the greater vestibular glands.
6
The
external urethral orifice (
orificium urethræ externum; urinary meatus) is placed about 2.5 cm. behind the glans clitoridis and immediately in front of that of the vagina; it usually assumes the form of a short, sagittal cleft with slightly raised margins.
7
The
vaginal orifice is a median slit below and behind the opening of the urethra; its size varies inversely with that of the
hymen. 8
The
hymen is a thin fold of mucous membrane situated at the orifice of the vagina; the inner edges of the fold are normally in contact with each other, and the vaginal orifice appears as a cleft between them. The hymen varies much in shape. When stretched, its commonest form is that of a ring, generally broadest posteriorly; sometimes it is represented by a semilunar fold, with its concave margin turned toward the pubes. Occasionally it is cribriform, or its free margin forms a membranous fringe. It may be entirely absent, or may form a complete septum across the lower end of the vagina; the latter condition is known as an
imperforate hymen. It may persist after copulation, so that its presence cannot be considered a sign of virginity. When the hymen has been ruptured, small rounded elevations known as the
carunculæ hymenales are found as its remains. Between the hymen and the frenulum of the labia is a shallow depression, named the
navicular fossa. 9
The
Bulb of the Vestibule (
bulbus vestibuli; vaginal bulb) is the homologue of the bulb and adjoining part of the corpus cavernosum urethræ of the male, and consists of two elongated masses of erectile tissue, placed one on either side of the vaginal orifice and united to each other in front by a narrow median band termed the
pars intermedia. Each lateral mass measures a little over 2.5 cm. in length. Their posterior ends are expanded and are in contact with the greater vestibular glands; their anterior ends are tapered and joined to one another by the pars intermedia; their deep surfaces are in contact with the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm; superficially they are covered by the Bulbocavernosus.
10
The
Greater Vestibular Glands (
glandulæ vestibularis major [
Bartholini];
Bartholin’s glands) are the homologues of the bulbo-urethral glands in the male. They consist of two small, roundish bodies of a reddish-yellow color, situated one on either side of the vaginal orifice in contact with the posterior end of each lateral mass of the bulb of the vestibule. Each gland opens by means of a duct, about 2 cm. long, immediately lateral to the hymen, in the groove between it and the labium minus.
11