labia minora

(noun)

The two inner folds of skin within the cleft of the labia majora.

Related Terms

Examples of labia minora 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 labia minora are two soft folds of skin within the labia majora.
    • The clitoris is located at the front of the vulva where the labia minora meet.
    • The point where the labia minora attach to the clitoris is called the frenulum clitoridis.
    • The area between the labia minora is called the vulval vestibule, and it contains the vaginal and urethral openings.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Penis

  • 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.

  • Circumcision

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

  • 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.