Labia minora

Labia minora
Outer anatomy of clitoris.
External genital organs of female. The labia minora have been drawn apart.
Latin	labium minus pudendi
Gray's	subject #270 1265
Precursor	Urogenital folds
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_01/12473854

The labia minora (singular: labium minus) or nymphae are two [longitudinal]] cutaneous folds, that normally vary widely in size from woman to woman. They are situated between the labia majora, and extending from the clitoris obliquely downward, lateralward, and backward on either side of the vulval vestibule, between which and the labia majora they end; in the virgin the posterior ends of the labia minora are usually joined across the middle line by a fold of skin, named the frenulum labiorum pudendi or fourchette.

Anteriorly, each labium minus (nympha) divides into two portions: the upper division passes above the clitoris to meet its fellow of the opposite side, although not necessarily its equal in size, forming a fold which overhangs the glans clitoridis, and is named the preputium clitoridis; the lower division passes beneath the glans clitoridis and becomes united to its under surface, forming, with its fellow of the opposite side, although not necessarily its equal in size, the frenulum clitoridis.

On the opposed surfaces of the labia minora are numerous sebaceous follicles.

Additional images

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  Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment.

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  Adel Median sagittal section of female pelvis.

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  Organs of the female reproductive system.

• Illu female genitalia.jpg

  Female external genitalia.

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  Labia minora.

See also

• Labium

External links

• labium+minus at eMedicine Dictionary

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

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