Vulva

Our Anatomy

Carol is working on a project to bring our understanding of our sexual anatomy up to date, including documenting the medical profession's neglect of studying our female sex organ, using the clearest and most accurate terminology and using a term that females in general could use to discuss our bodies. Stay tuned to this website to participate in developing this name. "I remain amazed that the drawings below which resulted from our collective of laywomen's sharing of information of our sexual experiences, coupled with our poring over medical anatomy books which Suzann Gage, a member of our group, created these beautiful drawings. Now, forty years later, recent research by female anatomists and images gained by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have shown these drawings to be accurate and complete." ~ Carol Downer

Your external and internal genital anatomy include your Vulva and your Vagina. When you stand in front of a mirror naked, you can see your vulva, the fatty layer of skin covered by pubic hair. When you do your Self Help exam, you're examining your internal anatomy, where your internal sexual and reproductive organs are.

External anatomy

Internal anatomy

External: The left image is the vulva, which is an accurate term for your external genitalia. The vulva includes your mons pubis (pubic mound), the labia major and minor (your vaginal lips), your clitoris and its hood, your labial frenulum, your hymen or hymen remnant, and the external openings of your urethra, your vagina, fourchette, perineum and your anus.

Internal: Your internal genitalia includes your vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, fimbriae, ovaries, bartholin’s glands, skene’s glands, hymen, g spot.

 

Your anatomy is unique to you, but we all have common structure. The presentation below shows you 12 variations of normal external anatomy.

29 yo woman
Image is not available

Lips flare, glans visible at the top of clitoral opening. 1 birth. 1 abortion.

Lips flare, glans visible at the top of clitoral opening. 1 birth. 1 abortion.

This 29-year-old woman’s lips are a rosy pink color and flare out widely. Her glans is clearly visible at the top and the clitoral opening to the vagina opens slightly. She has had one birth and one abortion.

29 yo woman

Lips flare, glans visible at the top of clitoral opening. 1 birth. 1 abortion.

19 yo woman
Image is not available

Long hood covers glands, fourchette well defined

Long hood covers glands, fourchette well defined

This woman’s hood is rather long, completely covering the glands, Her inner lips seem to be rolled together and have a crinkly texture. Her fourchette (the base of the inner lips) is well defined and the perineal area above the anus forms a flat plane. She is 19 and has never been pregnant.

19 yo woman

Long hood covers glands, fourchette well defined

Lips enfold hood
Image is not available

Prominent inner lips of clitoris

Prominent inner lips of clitoris

The lower half of the inner lips of this woman’s clitoris is its most prominent feature. The outer lips enfold the hood and the inner lips.

Lips enfold hood

Prominent inner lips of clitoris

Small inner lips
Image is not available

Small inner lips flare out from pink hood.

Small inner lips flare out from pink hood.

This woman’s dark inner lips are relatively small. They flare out from a pink hood and are parted so that you can almost see past the light pink hymen into her vagina.

Small inner lips

Small inner lips flare out from pink hood.

Episiotomy
Image is not available

Extends to vagina, fourchette intact, scaring at the bottom of perineum.

Episiotomy extends to vagina, fourchette intact, scaring at the bottom of perineum.

The woman in this photograph has had a recent episiotomy. Although it extends into the vagina, you can see that it runs past the lower portion of the right lip and extends across the perineum. Since the cut runs outside the inner lips, her fourchette (the membrane which stretches across the areas where the inner lips meet) is still intact. (Women doing self-examination often find that an episiotomy has completely altered the structure of the fourchette.) At the bottom of the perineum near the anus, the flesh is very bunched up where the cut was sewn together. Additionally, a small hemorrhoid protrudes from the anus.

Episiotomy

Extends to vagina, fourchette intact, scaring at the bottom of perineum.

Profile clitoral hood
Image is not available

Profile of clitoris shows a well-defined hood with easy inner lips .

Profile of clitoris shows a well-defined hood with easy inner lips .

This profile of the woman's clitoris shows a well-defined hood with the inner lips widening as they surround the clitoral opening, then narrowing to join together at the fourchette. It’s easy to see in this photo the skin on the inner lips. The inner lips are covered with a smooth, hairless membrane and the outer lips are covered with skin more like the rest of her body, and pubic hair.

Profile clitoral hood

Profile of clitoris shows a well-defined hood with easy inner lips .

Profile of clitoris shows a well-defined hood with easy inner lips .

Glans
Image is not available

Pulling back the hood of the clitoris to show the glans.

Pulling back the hood of the clitoris to show the glans.

This woman is pulling back the hood of the clitoris to show the glans. The flesh between her fingers covers the shaft which she can feel by squeezing her fingers together. Her inner lips protrude somewhat between the hair-covered outer lips.

Glans

Pulling back the hood of the clitoris to show the glans.

Pulling back the hood of the clitoris to show the glans.

Urethra
Image is not available

Urethral opening is quite close to the opening of the vagina.

Urethral opening is quite close to the opening of the vagina.

In this photo, the urethra, the small opening where urine comes out, can be seen. This woman’s urethral opening is quite close to the opening of the vagina.

Urethra

Urethral opening is quite close to the opening of the vagina.

Urethral opening is quite close to the opening of the vagina.

Distinct fourchette
Image is not available

Visible urethra, distinct fourchette.

Visible urethra, distinct fourchette.

With two fingers, this woman has spread her inner lips so that her urethra, the opening of which is on top of the lighter pink bump, is visible. Her fourchette, the folds of skin across the bottom of the opening, is very distinct.

Distinct fourchette

Visible urethra, distinct fourchette.

Visible urethra, distinct fourchette.

32 yo woman
Image is not available

Vulva skin texture, perineum stretched tightly

Vulva skin texture, perineum stretched tightly

This woman has very little pubic hair, so it is easy to see the texture of the skin on the vulva, which typically has a slightly grainy texture. The skin over the perineum is stretched tightly and is almost transparent, allowing a view of the structures underneath. This woman is 32 years old and has had two children.

32 yo woman

Vulva skin texture, perineum stretched tightly

Vulva skin texture, perineum stretched tightly

Lips, glans, clitoral opening
Image is not available

Outer, inner lips. Partially visible glans, clitoral opening

Outer, inner lips. Partially visible glans, clitoral opening

The outer lips are spread to reveal the inner lips which have many folds and are different from each other. The glans is partially visible beneath the hood and the clitoral opening to the vagina is long and narrow. In this particular picture you can see the fourchette loosely stretched across the bottom of the opening to the vagina.

Lips, glans, clitoral opening

Outer, inner lips. Partially visible glans, clitoral opening

Outer, inner lips. Partially visible glans, clitoral opening

Four children, open urethra
Image is not available

Inner lips, open urethra

Inner lips, open urethra

This woman, who has had four children, has pulled back her inner lips so that you can very easily see her urethra, which is quite open.

Four children, open urethra

Inner lips, open urethra

Inner lips, open urethra

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Sexual Anatomy

The Clitoris, Sex, Orgasm
The misdirection in representing women's anatomy

As feminists, we've been aware of the misdirection of how physicians and sex researchers interpret and represent women's anatomy. A main focus of Women's Health In Women's Hands is giving you accurate information that includes the wide variations of normal women's bodies and experiences. WHWH and WHS intend to remedy the misdirection.

Being feminists, we designed a study with that purpose where we took off our pants and compared ourselves with illustrations in the most respected anatomy texts from American and Europe.

What we found:

  • Not one of the drawings hinted at the wide variation in texture, size and color among women.
  • We documented the changes in women's anatomy during the sexual-response cycle by observing study participants who masturbated to orgasm.
  • We compared our life experiences, and study results, to textbook representations of our anatomy.
Our Goal Is To Provide Education On Women's Genital Anatomy And Sexual Response

Using self-examination, personal observation, and meticulous analysis, we arrived at a new view of the clitoris. Rebecca Chalker, a health writer and women's rights activist wrote The Clitoral Truth (now in its second edition), the only mainstream, in-depth exploration devoted solely to women's genital anatomy and sexual response.

If you've ever been frustrated that you haven't seen accurate or varied information about your sexual anatomy or function, you're not alone. A quick google for erection of the penis results in over 13 million results that cover everything from ED to the completely normal erectile responses in a penis. Google erection of the clitoris and you get 994 thousand results much of them focusing on the question of whether it's a thing. Clitoral erection is precisely a thing and part of your sexual experience, enjoyment and pleasure.

Sexual research ignores women's sexual experience. The image below on the left is a cross section of the clitoris and shows the organs and other muscles involved in sexual response. The image below on the right shows the crura of the clitoris, the two bands of erectile tissue that become engorged with blood when you're aroused and the erectile tissue of the clitoris becomes engorged.

 

 

 

 

 

Sexual response cycle

During orgasm, the muscles which lie just beneath the top layer of skin and fat, contract in unison, compressing the soft, engorged tissues of the clitoris between them. At the same time, they compress the more interior tissues between themselves and the underlying broad layers of muscles. The presentation below shows you each stage of the sexual response cycle.

Clitoris in non erect state

Glans visible with clitoral hood pulled back, stimulating clitoris manually, pushing flesh back and forth. Self Help research shows a wide variety of clitoris appearance among women.

Glans visible with clitoral hood pulled back, stimulating clitoris manually, pushing flesh back and forth. Self Help research shows a wide variety of clitoris appearance among women.

The clitoris and its underlying tissue in a non erect state. Here, the glans is nestled among the folds of the hood and is visible because the hood has been pulled back. The woman in this illustration is stimulating the clitoris manually. Her fingers are pressed on either side of the shaft and she is “rocking” her hands, pushing the flesh of the mound back and forth over the pubic bone. Self-help research has shown that many women’s clitoris do not look a great deal like the standard anatomy-book illustrations.

Excitement

Excitement stage. Erect clitoris. Spongy tissues fill with blood. Vaginal lubrication present. Blood vessels fill with blood. Glans shaft pulls back by the shortened ligament. Rhythmic strokes help intensify this state.

The clitoris becomes erect when the underlying spongy tissues fill with blood. This is the excitement stage of sexual response. The vagina secretes lubrication, vaginal blood vessels fill with blood. In most women, the glans is not visible at this point because the shaft pulls back by the shortened ligament. Rhythmic strokes help intensify this state.

The clitoris becomes erect when the underlying spongy tissues fill with blood. This signifies the first, or excitement, stage of sexual response. At the same time, the vagina “sweats”, which provides lubrication, the vaginal blood vessels widen and fill with blood and the color of the vaginal walls deepens. At this time there is a noticeable increase in the pulse rate and blood pressure. In most women, the glans is not visible at this point because the shaft has been pulled back by the shortened ligament, causing it to retract from view. Rhythmic strokes help intensify this state.

Plateau

Urethral sponge filled with blood. The valves in arteries and veins close, trapping the blood in the organ. Clitoral hood enlarges as ligament shortens and pulls on firm shaft and legs. Faster stroking intensifies Plateau.

Urethral sponge filled with blood. The valves in arteries and veins close, trapping the blood in the organ. Clitoral hood enlarges as ligament shortens and pulls on firm shaft and legs. Faster stroking intensifies Plateau.

The bulbs and the urethral sponge become further filled with blood as sexual excitement increases. The valves in the arteries and veins close, trapping the blood in the organ. This is called vasocongestion. The hood enlarges as its supporting ligament shortens and pulls on the shaft, which is now quite hard, and the legs, which have become rigid also. The perineal sponge thickens as it fills with blood, further closing the entrance to the vagina. The uterus, tubes and ovaries swell. The broad ligament, which lies like a blanket over the bladder, swells and tightens, pulling up on the uterus and causing the vagina to enlarge. At this point, her movements have speed up.

Orgasm

Powerful, rhythmic muscle contractions begin, clitoris shortens and lips tuck in, covering it. Involuntary muscle control. Tingling, and sometimes rash or flush on the breasts and stomach. Manual stimulation through orgasm.

Powerful, rhythmic muscle contractions begin, clitoris shortens and lips tuck in, covering it. Involuntary muscle control. Tingling, and sometimes rash or flush on the breasts and stomach. Manual stimulation through orgasm.

Powerful, rhythmic muscle contractions begin. The clitoris shortens dramatically and the inner lips tuck in, covering it. These events are accompanied by the loss of voluntary muscle control, faster breathing, tingling sensations and, sometimes, a rash or flush on the breasts and stomach. Some women experience sharp spasms in their hands and feet. Since one of her hands has become tired, she continues and intensifies the pressure with the other until orgasm.

Resolution

Clitoris contractions prevent blood flooding the tissues further. Tissues shrink, pulse rate lowers, valves in arteries and veins open. Inner lips return to original lighter color.

Clitoris contractions prevent blood flooding the tissues further. Tissues shrink, pulse rate lowers, valves in arteries and veins open. Inner lips return to original lighter color.

Contractions of the clitoris prevent blood from flooding the tissues further. The tissues shrink as the pulse rate lowers, the valves in the arteries and veins open and the inner lips return to their original color. Within seconds, the orgasmic contractions grow faint and fade away. She is relaxed and covered with a fine film of perspiration.

Inner View Of Aroused Clitoris

During sexual arousal, the chambers of tissues fill with blood, which is trapped by valves. The clitoris enlarges. Glans and shaft become erect. Underlying muscles are taut and contract in response to stimulation.

During sexual arousal, the chambers of tissues fill with blood, which is trapped by valves. The clitoris enlarges. Glans and shaft become erect. Underlying muscles are taut and contract in response to stimulation.

During sexual arousal, the intricate chambers of these tissues fill with blood which is then trapped by valves, and the entire clitoris enlarges and changes dramatically. The glans and shaft become erect and maintain their positions until resolution. Underneath, the muscles are taut and contract in response to sexual stimulation.

Inner View Of Clitoris At Resolution

Clitoris returns to nonerect state. Image shows blood vessels, capillaries in tissues of the glans, shaft and legs, called corpus cavernosum. In the nonerect state, valves of the clitoral arteries are closed and the valves of the veins are open.

Clitoris returns to nonerect state. Image shows blood vessels, capillaries in tissues of the glans, shaft and legs, called corpus cavernosum. In the nonerect state, valves of the clitoral arteries are closed and the valves of the veins are open.

The clitoris is in its nonerect state. The intricate maze, created by the blood vessels and capillaries in the tissues of the glans, shaft and legs, is called corpus cavernosum, which literally mean body of caverns. The urethral sponge, perineal sponge and bulbs differ from corpus cavernosum in that they are made up of tissue that is more elastic and does not become as hard during erection. This tissue is called corpus sponginosum. In the nonerect state, the valves of the clitoral arteries are closed and the valves of the veins are open.

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 All images are taken from a New View of a Woman's Body, A Fully Illustrative Guide by the Federation of Feminists Women’s Health Centers Written By Rebecca Chalker, Illsustrations by Suzann Gage.

 

Anatomy

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