labia majora

(noun)

The two outer rounded folds of adipose tissue that lie on either side of the opening of the vagina.

Related Terms

Examples of labia majora in the following topics:

  • Vulva

    • As the outer portal of the human uterus or womb, the vulva protects its opening with a "double door": the labia majora (large lips) and the labia minora (small lips).
    • The mons pubis separates into two folds of skin called the labia majora, literally "major (or large) lips."
    • The labia majora meet again at the perineum, a flat area between the pudendal cleft and the anus.
    • After the onset of puberty, the mons pubis and the labia majora become covered by pubic hair.
    • The labia minora are two soft folds of skin within the labia majora.

  • Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

    • These parts are internal; the vagina meets the external organs at the vulva, which includes the labia, clitoris, and urethra.
    • The external components include the mons pubis, pudendal cleft, labia majora, labia minora, Bartholin's glands, and clitoris.

  • Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands

    • The apocrine glands are found in places like the armpits, scrotum, anus, and labia majora. 

  • Scrotum

    • The scrotum is a dual-chambered suspended sack of skin and smooth muscle that contains the testes, and is homologous to the labia majora in females.

  • Lumbar Plexus

    • It pierces the lateral abdominal wall and runs medially at the level of the inguinal ligament where it supplies motor branches to both the transversus abdominis and sensory branches through the external inguinal ring to the skin over the pubic symphysis and the lateral aspect of the labia majora in females, and in males, the scrotum.
    • It then sends sensory branches to the labia majora in females.

  • Penis

  • Sebaceous (Oil) Glands

    • Sebaceous glands are also found in non-haired areas of lips, eyelids, penis, labia minora, and nipples; here the sebum reaches the surface through ducts.

  • Circumcision

    • Circumcision is the surgical removal of either the foreskin in males, or the clitoris and labia in females.

  • Female Sexual Response

    • Further stimulation can lead to more vaginal wetness and further engorgement and swelling of the clitoris and the labia, along with increased redness or darkening of the skin in these areas.

  • Embryological and Fetal Events

    • Furthermore, the labioscrotal folds evolve into the scrotum in males, while they evolve into labia in females.