VAGINA
 Musculomembranous
 From ulva to uterus
 Upper portion – mullerian ducts
 Lower portion – urogenital sinus
 Anteriorly –bladder and urethra (vesicovaginal
septum)
 Posteriorly – lower portion of vagina and
rectume (rectovaginal septum)
 Upper fourth of the vagina – the recto-
uterinepouch / cul-de-sac of douglas
VAGINAL OPENING AND HYMEN
 Rimmed distally by hymen or its remnants
 Elastic and collagenous connective tissue
 Stratified squamous epith.
 Imperforate hymen – vaginal orifice occlusion
 Hymen is torn at several sites during 1st coitus
and tampons used – hymenal caruncles
VESTIBULAR BULBS
 Inferiorly at the midline of the vaginal opening
and upward the clitoris
 Anterior extensions merge in the midline,
below the clitoral body
 During childbirth – may be injured and may
even rupture to create a vulvar hematoma
 Embryologically – corpus spongiosum of
penis
 Almond-shaped aggregations of veins
 3-4 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, 0.5-1 cm
 Beneath the bulbocavernousus muscle on
either side of the vestibule
URETHRAL OPENING
 Lower teo thirds of the urethra lie immediately
above the anterior vaginal wall
 Urethral opening or meatus Is in midline of
vestibule, 1-1.5 cm below pubic arch, and
short distance above vaginal opening
PARAURETHRAL GLANDS
 Collectively an arborization of glands whose
ducts open at inferior aspect of the urethra
 Two largest: Skene glands (ducts lie near
urethral meatus)
 Inflammation and obstruction – urethral
diverticulum formation
VESTINULAR GLANDS
 Aka Bartholin glands
 0.5-1cm in diameter
 Inferior to the vestibular bulbs and deep to the
inferior ends of bulbocavernosus muscle on
either side of vaginal opening
 Ducts are 1.5-2cm long and open distal to the
hymenal ring at 5 and 7 o’clock
 Trauma or infection – cyst/abscess
VESTIBULE
 From urogenital membrane
 Almond-shaped area
 The external surface of the hymen medially,
clitoral frenulum anteriorly, fourchette
posteriorly
 Six openings: urethra, vagina, 2 bartholin
ducts, 2 skene glands
 Posterior portion of the vestibule between the
fourchette and the vaginal opening is called
the fossa navicularis (nulliparous)
EXTERNAL GENERATIVE ORGANS
 Clitoris
 Female erogenous organ
 Erectile homologue of the penis and is located
beneath the prepuce and above the urethra
 <2cm in length and composed of glans, corpus
body, 2 crura
 Labia minora
 Connective tissue with many vessels, elastin
fibers, and some smooth muscle fibers
 Supplied variety of nerve endings. Sensitive
 Stratified squamous epith. – outer surface and
lateral
 Medial – stratifiend squamous keratinized
Anterior abdominal wall
Innervation
 Intercostal nerves T7-11
 Subcostal nerv T12
 Iliohypogastric & ilioinguinal L1