vagina

(noun)

the passage leading from the opening of the vulva to the cervix of the uterus for copulation and childbirth in female mammals

Related Terms

Examples of vagina in the following topics:

  • Female Reproductive Anatomy

    • These labia protect the openings to the vagina and urethra.
    • Internal female reproductive structures include ovaries, oviducts, the uterus, and the vagina.
    • Contractions of the smooth muscle in the uterus aid in passing the baby through the vagina during labor.
    • Part of the uterus, called the cervix, protrudes into the top of the vagina, which functions as the birth canal.
    • The vagina is a muscular tube that serves several purposes.

  • Contraception and Birth Control

    • Chemicals such as spermicides, which are designed to kill sperm, are often used in conjunction; sponges, for example, are saturated with spermicides and are placed in the vagina at the cervical opening.
    • Natural methods include avoiding intercourse when ovulation is occurring ("natural family planning) or withdrawing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation.
    • Withdrawal involves the removal of the penis from the vagina during intercourse, before ejaculation occurs; it has a failure rate of 27%.
    • The high failure rate is due to the possible presence of sperm in the bulbourethral gland's secretion, which may enter the vagina prior to removing the penis.

  • Male Reproductive Anatomy

    • The organ is inserted into the vagina, culminating with an ejaculation, which is the forcible ejection of semen from the urethra.
    • Withdrawal of the penis from the vagina before ejaculation to prevent pregnancy may not work if sperm are present in the bulbourethral gland secretions.

  • Pineal Gland and Gonads

    • Estrogen increases at the time of puberty, causing the growth of the uterus and vagina.

  • Fungi as Plant, Animal, and Human Pathogens

    • ., a common member of the natural biota, can grow unchecked and infect the vagina or mouth (oral thrush) if the pH of the surrounding environment, the person's immune defenses, or the normal population of bacteria are altered.

  • The Evolution of Reproduction

    • During reproduction, sperm transfer from the male to the female ranges from releasing the sperm into the watery environment for external fertilization, to the joining of cloaca in birds, to the development of a penis for direct delivery into the female's vagina in mammals.