The vagina is the term used to refer to the vulva and female genitals generally. Technically, the vagina is a specific internal structure - the fibromuscular tubular tract that leads from the uterus to the exterior of the body in a female. In a human, the passage leads from the opening of the vulva to the womb and uterus, lying midway between the anal tract and the urethra. Placental mammals, marsupials, some female birds, monotremes, reptiles and even some female insects and other invertebrates have a vagina.
There is a wide anatomical variation in the size of a vagina but typically the length of an unaroused vagina of a woman of child-bearing age is approximately 6 to 7.5 cm across the anterior wall and 9cm long across the posterior wall. The vagina expands in both length and width during sexual arousal. It connects the superficial vulva to the cervix of the deep uterus. When a woman stands, the vaginal tube forms an angle of just over 45 degrees with the uterus and points in an upward-backward direction. The opening is at the posterior end of the vulva, located behind the opening of the urethra. The vagina, along with the vulva, is a pinky red colour, similar to that of most health internal mucous membranes in mammals. The vaginal rugae is a series of ridges produced by the folding of the wall of the outer third of the vagina. These ridges are transverse epithelial and provide the vagina with an increased surface area for stretching and extension.
The Bartholin’s glands are found near the vaginal opening and cervix and provide the vagina with lubrication. Moisture is also produces by membranes of the vaginal wall. This is produced during ovulation to provide an environment that is favourable for the survival of sperm.
There is a wide anatomical variation in the size of a vagina but typically the length of an unaroused vagina of a woman of child-bearing age is approximately 6 to 7.5 cm across the anterior wall and 9cm long across the posterior wall. The vagina expands in both length and width during sexual arousal. It connects the superficial vulva to the cervix of the deep uterus. When a woman stands, the vaginal tube forms an angle of just over 45 degrees with the uterus and points in an upward-backward direction. The opening is at the posterior end of the vulva, located behind the opening of the urethra. The vagina, along with the vulva, is a pinky red colour, similar to that of most health internal mucous membranes in mammals. The vaginal rugae is a series of ridges produced by the folding of the wall of the outer third of the vagina. These ridges are transverse epithelial and provide the vagina with an increased surface area for stretching and extension.
The Bartholin’s glands are found near the vaginal opening and cervix and provide the vagina with lubrication. Moisture is also produces by membranes of the vaginal wall. This is produced during ovulation to provide an environment that is favourable for the survival of sperm.
