Vagina

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For other uses, see Vagina (disambiguation).

Vagina
Human female internal reproductive anatomy - profile view.
Latin	"sheath" or "scabbard"
Gray\'s	subject #269 1264
Artery	Iliolumbar artery, vaginal artery, middle rectal artery
Lymph	upper part to internal iliac lymph nodes, lower part to superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Precursor	urogenital sinus and paramesonephric ducts
MeSH	Vagina
Dorlands/Elsevier	v_01/12842531

The vagina, (from Latin, literally "sheath" or "scabbard" ) is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the oviduct. The Latinate plural (rarely used in English) is vaginae.

In common speech, the term "vagina" is often used to refer to the vulva or female genitals generally; strictly speaking, the vagina is a specific internal structure and the vulva is the exterior genitalia only.

Contents 1 Human anatomy 2 Physiological functions of the vagina 2.1 Uterine secretions 2.2 Sexual activity 2.3 Childbirth 3 Sexual health and hygiene 4 The vagina in popular culture 4.1 Productions 5 Additional images 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Human anatomy

Image showing stretched vulva with surrounding.

The human vagina is an elastic muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the vulva.http://www.womenshealth.gov/glossary/#vagina Womenshealth.gov Although there is wide anatomical variation, the length of the unaroused vagina is approximately 6 to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 in) across the anterior wall (front), and 9 cm (3.5 in) long across the posterior wall (rear).Gray\'s Anatomy During sexual arousal the vagina expands in both length and width.The sexual response cycle. EngenderHealth. Retrieved on 2007-10-13. Its elasticity allows it to stretch during sexual intercourse and during birth to offspring.http://www.metrokc.gov/HEALTH/famplan/flash/grades11-12/G1112-L17.pdf Metrokc.gov The vagina connects the superficial vulva to the cervix of the deep uterus.

If the woman stands upright, the vaginal tube points in an upward-backward direction and forms an angle of slightly more than 45 degrees with the uterus. The vaginal opening is at the caudal end of the vulva, behind the opening of the urethra. The upper one-fourth of the vagina is separated from the rectum by the rectouterine pouch. Above the vagina is Mons Veneris. The vagina, along with the inside of the vulva, is reddish pink in color, as with most healthy internal mucous membranes in mammals.

Vaginal lubrication is provided by the Bartholin\'s glands near the vaginal opening and the cervix. The membrane of the vaginal wall also produces moisture, although it does not contain any glands. Before and during ovulation, the cervix\'s mucus glands secretes different variations of mucus, which provides a favorable alkaline environment in the vaginal canal to maximize the chance of surivival for sperm.

The hymen is a thin membrane of connective tissue which is situated at the opening of the vagina. As with many female animals, the hymen covers the opening of the vagina from birth until it is ruptured during activity. The hymen may rupture during sexual or non-sexual activity. Vaginal penetration may rupture the hymen. A pelvic examination, injury, or certain types of exercises, such as horseback riding or gymnastics may also rupture the hymen. Sexual intercourse does not always rupture the hymen.Rogers, Deborah J; Margaret Stark (August 1998). "The hymen is not necessarily torn after sexual intercourse". BMJ 317: 414. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.  Therefore, the presence or absence of a hymen does not necessarily indicate virginity or prior sexual activity.

Physiological functions of the vagina

The vagina has several biological functions.

Uterine secretions

The vagina provides a path for menstrual blood and tissue to leave the body. In industrial societies, tampons, menstrual cups and sanitary napkins may be used to absorb or capture these fluids.

Sexual activity

The concentration of the nerve endings that lie close to the entrance of a woman\'s vagina can provide pleasurable sensation during sexual activity, when stimulated in a way that the particular woman enjoys. During sexual arousal and particularly stimulation of the clitoris, the walls of the vagina self-lubricate, reducing friction during sexual activity. Research has found that portions of the clitoris extend into the vulva and vagina.Mascall, Sharon, “Time for Rethink on the Clitoris”, BBC News. 2006 June |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5013866.stm

With arousal, the vagina lengthens rapidly to an average of about 4 in.(8.5 cm), but can continue to lengthen in response to pressure.Does size matter. TheSite.org. Retrieved on 2006-08-12. As the woman becomes fully aroused, the vagina tents (last ²⁄₃ expands in length and width) while the cervix retracts.do big penises hurt?. AskMen.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-14. The walls of the vagina are composed of soft elastic folds of mucous membrane skin which stretch or contract (with support from pelvic muscles) to the size of the penis. With proper arousal, the vagina may stretch/contract to accommodate virtually any penis size (or sex toy/object within reason).The female reproductive system. birth.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.Facts about penis size. netdoctor.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-14.

An erogenous zone referred to commonly as the G-spot is located at the anterior wall of the vagina, about five centimeters in from the entrance. Some women experience intense pleasure if the G-spot is stimulated appropriately during sexual activity. A G-Spot orgasm may be responsible for female ejaculation, leading some doctors and researchers to believe that G-spot pleasure comes from the Skene\'s glands, a female homologue of the prostate, rather than any particular spot on the vaginal wall.Crooks, R; Baur, K [1999]. Our Sexuality. California: Brooks/Cole. Jannini E, Simonelli C, Lenzi A (2002). "Sexological approach to ejaculatory dysfunction.". Int J Androl 25 (6): 317-23. PMID 12406363. Jannini E, Simonelli C, Lenzi A (2002). "Disorders of ejaculation.". J Endocrinol Invest 25 (11): 1006-19. PMID 12553564.  Some researchers deny the existence of the G-spot. Hines, T (August 2001). "The G-Spot: A modern gynecologic myth". Am J Obstet Gynecol 185 (2): 359-62. 

Childbirth

During childbirth, the vagina provides the channel to deliver the baby from the uterus to its independent life outside the body of the mother. During birth, the vagina is often referred to as the birth canal. The vagina is remarkably elastic and stretches to many times its normal diameter during vaginal birth.

Sexual health and hygiene

This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007) Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Main article: vulvovaginal health

The vagina is self-cleansing and therefore usually needs no special treatment. Doctors generally discourage the practice of douching. Since a healthy vagina is colonized by a mutually symbiotic flora of microorganisms that protect its host from disease-causing microbes, any attempt to upset this balance may cause many undesirable outcomes, including but not limited to abnormal discharge and yeast infection. The acidity of a healthy vagina due to lactic acid secreted by symbiotic microorganisms retards the growth of many strains of dangerous microbes.

The vagina is examined during gynecological exams, often using a speculum, which holds the vagina open for visual inspection of the cervix or taking of samples (see pap smear).

Vulvovaginal disorders can affect the vagina, including vaginal cancer and yeast infections, as well as sexually transmitted infections.

The vagina in popular culture

Productions

• The Vagina Monologues.

Additional images

Illu cervix.jpg Uterus and uterine tubes.	Illu repdt female.jpg Organs of the female reproductive system.	Vulva anatomy.jpg Schematic vulva anatomy.	Gray1161.png Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind.
Gray1166.png Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment.	Gray1167.svg Posterior half of uterus and upper part of vagina.	Vagina (mucosa).JPG Layers of the vaginal wall.

See also

• Menstruation
• Grafenberg spot
• Masturbation
• Kegel exercise
• Human sexuality
• Human sexual behavior
• Cunnilingus
• Sex-positive feminism
• Sex
• Childbirth
• Cunt (slang term for a vagina, and one of the seven dirty words)

References

External links

Look up vagina in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Vagina

• Pink Parts - "Walk through" of female sexual anatomy.

v • d • e Sex
Acts	Sexual intercourse (foreplay, positions) · Oral sex · Anal sex · Group sex · Sexual sublimation Barebacking · Dirty talk · Facial · Fingering · Fisting · Masturbation · Non-penetrative sex · Sumata · Quickie
Adult entertainment	Artificial vagina · Dildo · Erotica · Gel · Paddle · Pornography · Vibrator · Sex doll · Sex toys · Sex shop · Adult video game
Health & education	Contraception · Erectile dysfunction · Gynaecology · Hypersexuality · Sexual dysfunction · Sex education · Sexually transmitted disease ·
History	History of human sexuality · History of erotic depictions · Sexual revolution
Identity	Sexual identity ·Sexual orientation ·
Law	Age of consent · Obscenity · Public indecency · Rape · Sexual assault · Sexual abuse · Sexual harassment ·
Physiological events	Ejaculation · Erection · Insemination · Orgasm · Sexual arousal ·
Relationships and society	BDSM · Marriage · Paraphilia · Prostitution · Religion and sexuality · Romance · Sexual attraction · Sexual ethics · Sex surrogate · Sex tourism ·
See also	Human sexual behavior · Human sexuality · Sexology · Sexual slang ·

v • d • e Female reproductive system
Follicles/Folliculogenesis	corpus (hemorrhagicum, luteum, albicans) • Theca folliculi (externa, interna) • Follicular antrum (Follicular fluid) • Corona radiata • Zona pellucida • Membrana granulosa (Granulosa cells)
Ovaries/Oogenesis	Germinal epithelium • Tunica albuginea • cortex (Cumulus oophorus, Stroma) • Medulla
Fallopian tubes	Isthmus • Ampulla • Infundibulum • Fimbria
Ligaments	Broad (components: Mesovarium, Mesosalpinx, Mesometrium contents: Round of uterus, Proper of ovary) • Suspensory of ovary • Cardinal
Uterus	cervix/neck (External orifice - Canal of the cervix, Internal orifice) • corpus/body (Cavity of the body, Fundus) • layers (Endometrium, Myometrium, Perimetrium) • Uterine horns
Vulva/mons pubis	Labium: commissures (Anterior • Posterior) • Frenulum labiorum pudendi • Labia majora • Cleft of venus • Labia minora • Vulval vestibule • interlabial sulci Clitoris: Vestibular bulbs • Clitoral crura • Corpus cavernosa • Clitoral glans (Frenulum, Hood) Vagina: vestibular glands/ducts (Bartholin\'s glands/Bartholin\'s ducts, Skene\'s glands/Skene\'s ducts) • Fossa of vestibule of vagina • Vaginal fornix • Hymen • Orifice
Vestiges	Wolffian (Gartner\'s duct, Epoophoron, Paroöphoron) • Canal of Nuck
Other	G-spot • Urethral sponge

v • d • e Human anatomical features
Head	Skull · Forehead · Eye · Ear · Nose · Mouth · Tongue · Teeth · Jaw · Face · Cheek · Chin
Neck	Throat · Adam\'s apple
Torso	Shoulders · Spine · Breast (Tail of Spence) · Chest · Ribcage · Abdomen · Navel Sex organs (Clitoris · Vagina · Penis · Scrotum · Testicle) – Hip · Anus · Buttocks
Limbs	Arm · Elbow · Forearm · Wrist · Hand · Finger (Thumb · Index · Middle · Ring · Little) · Leg · Lap · Thigh · Knee · Calf · Heel · Ankle · Foot · Toe (Hallux)
Skin	Hair

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