Vulval vestibule
| Vulval vestibule | |
|---|---|
 Vestibule marked by a dotted line | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Urogenital sinus |
| Part of | Vulva |
| System | Reproductive system |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | vestibulum vaginae |
| TA98 | A09.2.01.011 |
| TA2 | 3558 |
| FMA | 19970 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thevulval vestibule(also known as thevulvar vestibuleorvestibule of vagina) is the part of thevulvabetween thelabia minora.On the inside, theurinary meatusand thevaginal introitusopen to the vestibule, while the outer edge is marked byHart's line,named afterDavid Berry Hart.
It represents thedistalend of theurogenital sinusof theembryo.[1]
Structure[edit]
Structures opening in the vulval vestibule are theurethra,vagina,Bartholin's glands,andSkene's glands.[1]
Theexternal urethral orificeis placed about 25–30 millimetres (1–1.2 in)[2]behind theclitorisand immediately in front of that of the vagina; it usually assumes the form of a short,sagittalcleft with slightly raised margins. Nearby are the openings of the Skene's ducts.
The vaginal orifice is a median slit below and behind the opening of the urethra; its size varies inversely with that of thehymen.
To the left and right of the vulval vestibule are thelabia minora.Anterior to it are theclitoral hood,frenulum clitoridis,and theclitoral glans.Posterior to it is the posterior commissure of the labia minora and thefrenulum of labia minora.
The sides of the vestibule are visible asHart's line on the inside of the inner lips. Hart's line is the outer edge of the area and marks the change from vulvar skin to the smoother transitional skin of the vulva.
Other animals[edit]
Except forprimates(including humans) and somerodents,the equivalent of the vulval vestibule in many other female mammals is called theurogenital sinus,[3]the same term used to refer to the body part of the mammalian embryo that has separated from theanal canal.
Clinical significance[edit]
The prevalence of pain at the vulvar vestibule is relatively common. A study by theUniversity of Michiganfound that about 28% of women have experienced vulvar vestibular pain in the past, and about 8% had the pain in the last six months.[4]
References[edit]
This article incorporates text in thepublic domainfrompage 1264of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
- ^abManual of Obstetrics.(3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 1–16.ISBN9788131225561.
- ^BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.May 2005, Vol. 112, pp. 643–646.
- ^Linzey, Donald W. (2020).Vertebrate Biology: Systematics, Taxonomy, Natural History, and Conservation.Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 306.ISBN978-1-42143-733-0.
- ^Reed, BD; Crawford, S; Couper, M; Cave, C (2004). "Pain at the vulvar vestibule: a web-based survey".Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease.8(1): 48–57.doi:10.1097/00128360-200401000-00011.PMID15874837.S2CID37414264.
