01 / Location & anatomical relationships
On the outside of the body, around the vaginal and urethral openings.
02 / Structure & organization
The vulva includes the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris and vestibule. The vestibule contains the urethral and vaginal openings. Glands and erectile tissues contribute to lubrication and sexual function.
03 / Function
It includes the labia and clitoris and surrounds the vaginal and urethral openings.
04 / Mechanism
The labia are folds that help protect delicate openings and tissue. The clitoris is another part of this region. Size, color and shape vary naturally, just as they do in other body regions.
Working together: reproductive system
Bodies develop in different ways. During puberty, hormones help reproductive organs mature. A pregnancy can begin when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, and development continues in the uterus.
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Connect structure with function
Vulva names the external genital region; vagina names the internal canal. External appearance varies widely and does not determine the dimensions of internal organs.
Check your understanding
Locate the vulva in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.