Female Anatomy

Female anatomy includes the internal and external structures of the reproductive and urinary systems. Reproductive anatomy plays a role in sexual pleasure, getting pregnant, and breastfeeding. The urinary system helps rid the body of toxins through urination (peeing). 

The main parts of the female anatomy can be broken up into outside (external) and inside (internal) parts.

External female anatomy includes:

• Mons pubis
• Labia
• Clitoris
• Urethra
• Vaginal opening

*Collectively referred to as the the Vulva

Internal female anatomy includes the:

• Vagina
• Cervix
• Uterus
• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Hymen
• Bartholin glands and Skene's glands

Female breasts have both internal and external parts.

This article discusses the location and function of the various parts of the female anatomy.

Note: Some people are born with internal or external structures that are ambiguous or characteristic of both male and female anatomy, which we do not cover here.

Female Anatomy Diagram

This female anatomy diagram is a good place to start if you're unsure of exactly where parts of the female reproductive and urinary systems are in comparison to one another.

The following sections go into detail about these and other parts of the female anatomy.

External Female Anatomy

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The vulva is made up of the structures outside the vaginal opening. These external structures include:

• Mons pubis: The mons pubis is the rounded, fleshy area on the front of the pelvic bone (the lower belly area) where pubic hair usually grows. 
• Labia majora: The labia majora are the fleshy outer folds of protective skin located on each side of the vaginal opening. They cover and protect the more delicate external genital organs. "Labia" is the Latin word for lips. The labia majora is often referred to as the outer lips.
• Labia minora: The labia minora are skinfolds that are just inside the labia majora. In some people, the labia minora extends past the labia majora. 
• Clitoris: The clitoris sits at the top of the vulva, above the urethral opening. A fold of skin called the clitoral hood covers most of the clitoris, leaving only the tip (nub) visible. The rest of the clitoris is a spongy shaft that goes back several inches inside the body.  
• Urethral opening: The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Its opening is located below the clitoris, directly above the vaginal opening. 
• The vaginal opening: The vaginal opening is located between the urethra and the anus.
• Bartholin glands: Bartholin glands sit on both sides inside the vaginal opening. They release secretions that lubricate the vagina to make sexual intercourse more comfortable.
• Skene's glands: The Skene's glands are located on either side of the urethra. They lubricate the urethral opening. Skene’s glands are sometimes called "the female prostate." Some scientists think these glands are responsible for "female ejaculation" or "squirting" during sexual arousal.
  

The Internal Female Anatomy

The rest of the female genitalia are inside the vaginal opening. These internal structures of female anatomy include the:

• Vagina: The vagina is a muscular canal that connects the cervix and the uterus. It leads to the outside of the body. Parts of the vagina are made of collagen and elastin, which help it expand during sexual stimulation and childbirth.
• Cervix: The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that separates the lower uterus and the vagina. It may play a role in lubrication. While direct contact with the cervix rarely happens during sexual intercourse, some people claim that it helps with sexual pleasure. For others, direct contact with the cervix is painful. During childbirth, the cervix dilates so the baby can move out of the uterus, into the vagina, and out of the body.
• Uterus: The uterus is located in the lower belly area between the hips (pelvis), through the vagina just past the cervix. It's also called the womb. The uterus is where a fetus develops during pregnancy. The uterus has three layers of muscle and is one of the strongest muscles in the body.
• Ovaries: The ovaries are small organs located on both sides of the pelvis. They play an important role in female hormone production and produce eggs during ovulation.
• Fallopian tubes: The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus on each side. Hairlike structures called cilia guide the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
• Hymen: The hymen is a thin tissue that sits at the vaginal opening. It has no known biological function. The hymen becomes more elastic with age and breaks or ruptures at some point in a person's life. While sexual activity is one way this can happen, a broken hymen is not evidence of sexual activity.

Female Breast Anatomy 

The breast contains multiple structures within it, including:

• Adipose tissue: Each breast has fatty (adipose) tissue that is used to store extra energy.
• Lobules: There are 15 to 20 sections called lobules in the fatty tissue. They are attached to ducts that can produce milk. 
• Milk ducts: The milk ducts are internal structures that go to the areola and nipple, which are the outer portion of the breast. 
• Areola and nipples: The areola is the darker area on the outside of the breast that surrounds the nipple in the center.

Functions of Female Body Parts

The various parts of the female anatomy serve different functions, which include hormone production, sexual arousal, conception, and pregnancy.

Hormonal Changes

Estrogen and progesterone are the primary female hormones produced by the reproductive system. Hormone production increases at puberty, giving a person the ability to menstruate and conceive.

Female hormones also promote vaginal lubrication and increase sexual desire.

Sexual Arousal

Female anatomy is designed for both intimacy and conception. The vulva, vagina, and breasts are sensitive to being touched, which helps with sexual arousal.

The role of the clitoris is just for sexual pleasure. It has many sensitive nerve endings that respond to touch. When a person is aroused, the clitoris tissue gets bigger—just like erectile swelling in people with a penis.

Conception and Pregnancy 

During ovulation, an ovary releases an egg that travels to a fallopian tube, where it stays for a brief period. If a sperm from semen introduced during penile-vaginal intercourse swims to the egg and joins it, fertilization (conception) occurs.

This creates a zygote, which evolves further as it finds its way to the uterus, where it implants. This is what develops into an embryo. Fertilization can happen hours or days after sexual intercourse.

If the egg is not fertilized and pregnancy does not occur, the uterine lining sheds instead. This part of the menstrual cycle is a person's period. Most people who menstruate have a cycle every 28 to 31 days, in the absence of pregnancy, but this varies depending on how often they ovulate.

Summary

Understanding female anatomy inside and out can help you prepare for changes during puberty, adulthood, pregnancy, and menopause. It can also help you better understand a related condition you may be diagnosed with.

The internal and external structures of the female anatomy, including the vagina, vulva, uterus, and clitoris, play important roles in sexual arousal, intercourse, conception, pregnancy, and childbirth.