Editing Labia minora

{{Redirect|Nymphae|the genus of flower|nymphaea}}
{{short description|Flaps of skin on either side of the vaginal opening in the vulva}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Labia minora
| Latin       = labium minus pudendi
| Image       = Малые половые губы.png
| Caption     = Hairless human vulva with labia minora encircled between the rounded thicker outer [[labia majora]].
| Image2      = 
| Caption2    = 
| Precursor   = [[Urogenital folds]]
| System      = 
| Part_of    = [[Vulva]]
| Artery      = 
| Vein        = 
| Nerve       = 
| Lymph       = 
}}
The '''labia minora''' ([[Latin]] for 'smaller lips', {{singular}}: '''labium minus'''), also known as the '''inner labia''', '''inner lips''', or '''nymphae''',<ref>''[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nymphae nymphae] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628022641/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nymphae |date=2008-06-28 }}''. Dictionary.com. Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. (accessed: November 24, 2007).</ref> are two flaps of [[skin]] that are part of the [[primate]] [[vulva]], extending outwards from the inner [[Vagina#Vaginal opening and hymen|vaginal]] and [[Urethral meatus|urethral]] openings to encompass the [[Vulval vestibule|vestibule]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Blüm|first=Volker|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|year = 2012|title=Vertebrate Reproduction: A Textbook|page=74|access-date=November 19, 2023|isbn=978-3-64271-074-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JZfzCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA74&dq=}}</ref> At the [[glans clitoridis]], each labium splits, above forming the [[clitoral hood]], and below the [[frenulum of the clitoris]]. At the bottom, the labia meet at the ''labial commissure''. The labia minora vary widely in size, color and shape from individual to individual.

The labia minora are situated between the [[labia majora]] and together form the [[labia]]. The labia minora are [[Homology (biology)|homologous]] to the [[penile raphe]] and ventral penile skin in males.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hodges|first1=Frederick Mansfield S.|last2=Denniston|first2=George C.|last3=Milos|first3=Marilyn Fayre|publisher=Springer US|year= 2007|title=Male and Female Circumcision: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Practice|page=10|access-date=November 24, 2023|isbn=978-0-58539-937-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U0EyBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Martin|first1=Richard J.|last2=Fanaroff|first2=Avory A.|last3=Walsh| first3=Michele C.|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|year=2014|title=Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine E-Book: Diseases of the Fetus and Infant|page=1522|access-date=November 24, 2023|isbn=978-0-32329-537-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AnVYBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1522&dq=}}</ref>

==Structure and functioning==
The labia minora extend from the [[clitoris]] obliquely downward, laterally, and backward on either side of the [[vulval vestibule]], ending between the bottom of the vulval vestibule and the labia majora. The [[Posterior (anatomy)|posterior]] ends (bottom) of the labia minora are usually joined across the middle line by a flap of skin, named the [[frenulum of labia minora]].<ref name="Gray's"/>

On the front, each lip forks dividing into two portions surrounding the clitoris. The upper part of each lip passes above the clitoris to meet the upper part of the other lip—which will often be a little larger or smaller—forming a fold which overhangs the [[Clitoris#Glans|glans clitoridis]] (clitoral tip or head); this fold is named the [[clitoral hood]]. The lower part passes beneath the glans clitoridis and becomes united to its under surface, forming, with the inner lip of the opposite side, the [[Clitoris#Frenulum|''frenulum clitoridis'']].<ref name="Gray's"/>

The clitoral hood serves to cover most of the time the shaft and sometimes the glans (which is very sensitive to the touch) to protect the clitoris from mechanical irritation and from dryness. Yet the hood is movable and can slide during [[clitoral erection]] or be pulled upwards a little for greater exposure of the clitoris to [[sexual stimulation]].

===Histology===
On the opposed surfaces of the labia minora are numerous [[sebaceous gland]]s not associated with hair follicles.<ref name="Gray's">{{Gray's|page=1265–1266|inline=1}}</ref> They are lined by [[stratified squamous epithelium]] on those surfaces.<ref name=":0">Manual of Obstetrics. (3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 1-16. {{ISBN|9788131225561}}.</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2016}}

Like the whole area of the vulval vestibule, the mucus secreted by those glands protects the labia from dryness and mechanical irritation.

===Variation===
[[File:Labia minora variation.jpg|thumb|upright=2|The individual size, coloration and shapes of the labia minora are subject to significant variability between women. The labia minora are completely covered by the labia majora in some women in a standing posture, while in others they protrude visibly from the pubic cleft.]]
Being thinner than the outer labia, the inner labia can be also more narrow than the former, or wider than the labia majora, thus protruding in the [[pudendal cleft]] and making the term ''minora'' (Latin for smaller) essentially inapplicable in these cases. They can also be smooth or frilled, the latter being more typical of longer or wider inner labia.
[[File: Differences of vagina with open and closed legs.jpg |thumb|upright=2|The appearance of the labia minora varies depending on the position of the legs. On the left, with the legs closed, the labia minora is almost completely covered by the labia majora. In the center, with the legs slightly open, the labia minora becomes partially visible. On the right, with the legs fully open, the labia minora is completely visible, along with the clitoral hood.]]

From 2003 to 2004, researchers from the Department of Gynaecology, [[Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital|Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital]] in London, measured the labia and other genital structures of 50 women from the age of 18 to 50, with a mean age of 35.6. The study has since been criticized for its "small and homogenous sample group" consisting primarily of white women.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oeming|first=Madita|date=1 January 2018|title=In Vulva Vanitas – The Rise of Labiaplasty in the West|url=http://genderforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/022018_Cliteridectomy_Comple-Issue.pdf|journal=Gender Forum|volume=67|pages=70–91|issn=1613-1878|access-date=8 June 2020|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718231742/http://genderforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/022018_Cliteridectomy_Comple-Issue.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The results were:<ref name="Lloyd">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lloyd J | display-authors = etal | title = Female genital appearance: 'normality' unfolds | url = http://www.newviewcampaign.org/userfiles/file/BJOG%2005-normal-genitalia.pdf | journal = British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | volume = 112 | issue = 5 | pages = 643–646 | pmid = 15842291 | doi = 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00517.x | date = May 2005 | s2cid = 17818072 | access-date = 2011-09-19 | archive-date = 2011-10-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005144436/http://www.newviewcampaign.org/userfiles/file/BJOG%2005-normal-genitalia.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Measurement
! Range
! Mean [SD]
|-
| [[Clitoris|Clitoral]] length (mm)
| 5–35
| 19.1 [8.7]
|-
| [[Clitoris#Glans|Clitoral glans]] width (mm)
| 3–10
| 5.5 [1.7]
|-
| Clitoris to [[urethra]] (mm)
| 16–45
| 28.5 [7.1]
|-
| [[Labia majora]] length (cm)
| 7.0–12.0
| 9.3 [1.3]
|-
| Labia minora length (mm)
| 20–100
| 60.6 [17.2]
|-
| Labia minora width (mm)
| 5–60
| 21.8 [9.4]
|-
| [[Perineum]] length (mm)
| 15–55
| 31.3 [8.5]
|-
| [[Vagina]]l length (cm)
| 6.5–12.5
| 9.6 [1.5]
|}

{| class="wikitable"
!Feature!!Value!!Frequency
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Tanner scale|Tanner stage]] (n)
| IV
| 4
|-
| V
| 46
|-
| rowspan=2|Colour of genital area<br />compared with surrounding skin (n)
| Same
| 9
|-
| Darker
| 41
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Rugosity]] of labia (n)
| Smooth
| 14
|-
| Moderate
| 34
|-
| Marked
| 2
|}

Due to the frequent portrayal of the pudendal cleft without protrusion in art and pornography, there has been a rise in the popularity of [[labiaplasty]], surgery to alter the labia—usually, to make them smaller.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rowenna Davis|date=27 February 2011|title=Labiaplasty surgery increase blamed on pornography |department=Life and style|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/27/labiaplasty-surgery-labia-vagina-pornography|url-status= live|access-date=2015-04-03|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141207234106/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/27/labiaplasty-surgery-labia-vagina-pornography|archive-date=2014-12-07 }}</ref><ref name="pmid29405204">{{cite journal |vauthors=Özer M, Mortimore I, Jansma EP, Mullender MG |title=Labiaplasty: motivation, techniques, and ethics |journal=Nat Rev Urol |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=175–189 |date=March 2018 |pmid=29405204 |doi=10.1038/nrurol.2018.1 |s2cid=3560906 }}</ref><ref name="pmid28314908">{{cite journal |vauthors=Clerico C, Lari A, Mojallal A, Boucher F |title=Anatomy and Aesthetics of the Labia Minora: The Ideal Vulva? |journal=Aesthetic Plast Surg |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=714–719 |date=June 2017 |pmid=28314908 |doi=10.1007/s00266-017-0831-1 |s2cid=4738537 }}</ref> On the other hand, there is an opposite movement of [[labia stretching]]. Its proponents stress the beauty of long labia and their positive role in sexual stimulation of both partners.

[[Labiaplasty]] is also sometimes sought by women who have asymmetrical labia minora to adjust the shape of the structures towards identical size.<ref>{{Citation|last=Triana|first=Lina|title=Lazy S Labiaplasty (Edge Labiaplasty)|work=Aesthetic Vaginal Plastic Surgery|year=2020|pages=37–51|publisher=Springer International Publishing|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-24819-2_4|isbn=978-3-030-24818-5|s2cid=203502492}}</ref>

[[Labia stretching]] has traditionally been practised in some African nations in the East and South<ref name="who">{{cite journal|url=http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/hrp/progress/67.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212223655/http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/hrp/progress/67.pdf|archive-date=12 February 2005|title=Sexual health—a new focus for WHO|page=6|journal=Progress in Reproductive Health Research|date=2004|issue=67|publisher=World Health Organization}}</ref> and the South Pacific.<ref>Robert Suggs, Marquesan Sexual Behavior [New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1966], pp. 39–42</ref>

=== Functioning ===
The inner lips serve to protect from mechanical irritation, dryness and infections of the highly sensitive area of the [[vulval vestibule]] with vaginal and urethral openings in it between them. During vaginal intercourse, they may contribute to stimulation of the whole vestibule area, the clitoris and the vagina of the woman and the penis of her partner. Stimulation of the clitoris may occur through tension of the clitoral hood and its frenulum by the inner labia pulling at them. During sexual arousal, they are lubricated by the mucus secreted in the vagina and around it to make penetration painless and protect them from irritation.

As the [[Urinary meatus|female external urethral opening (meatus)]] is also situated between labia minora, they may play a role in guiding the stream of the urine during [[Urination|female urination]].

=== Medical conditions ===
Being very sensitive by their structure to any irritation, and situated in the excretion area where traces of urine, [[vaginal discharge]], [[smegma]] and even [[Human feces|feces]] may be present, the inner lips may be susceptible to inflammatory infections of the vulva such as [[vulvitis]].

The likelihood of inflammation may be reduced through appropriate regular hygienic cleansing of the whole vulval vestibule, using water and medically tested cleansing agents designed for vulvas. To avoid contamination of the vulva with fecal bacteria, it is recommended that the vulva is washed only from front to back, from [[mons pubis]] to the [[perineum]] and [[Human anus|anus]]. Apart from water and special liquid cleansing agents (lotions), there are commercially available [[wet wipe]]s for female intimate hygiene. Some women wipe the vulval vestibule dry with toilet tissue after urination to avoid irritation and infections from residual drops of the urine in the area.

However, incorrect choice of cleansing agents, or their incorrect application, may itself cause labial irritation and require medical attention. Over-vigorous rubbing of the labia of little girls while washing, combined with the lack of [[estrogen]] in their bodies, may lead to the mostly pediatric condition known as [[labial fusion]]. If fused labia prevent urination, urine may accumulate and cause pain and inflammation.

In adult females, irritation of the area may be caused by wearing too-tight underwear (especially where wider inner labia protrude in the pudendal cleft); while [[G-string]]s, which rub against the labia during body movements, may cause irritation or lead to infection from bacteria transferred from either the external environment or the anus.

==Other animals==
[[File:Mares vulva.jpg|thumb|A horse's labia vulvae]]

The labia minora in non-primate [[Placentalia|placental]] [[mammal]]s (namely [[Euungulata]] and [[Carnivora]]) are a sole pair of small labia that protect the [[Urogenital sinus#Other animals|internal vestibule]] and are rather called the '''labia vulvae''' or simply ''labia''. In primates, they are called ''labia minora'' to differentiate them from the [[labia majora]], the latter of which are a feature only present in the Primates order.<ref>{{cite book|last=McEntee|first=Mark|publisher=Elsevier Science|year= 2012|title=Reproductive Pathology of Domestic Mammals|page=192|access-date=November 19, 2023|isbn=978-0-32313-804-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j87wTz362roC&pg=PA192&dq=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Andrews|first1=Anthony|last2=Boden|first2=Edward|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|year = 2015|title=Black's Veterinary Dictionary|page=484|access-date=December 15, 2023|isbn=978-1-40814-955-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aw1fBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA484&dq=}}</ref>

When the labia vulvae are closed together, they form a pudendal cleft. The joining of the labia vulvae top and bottom are respectively referred to as the anterior and posterior commissures.

==Additional images==
<gallery>
File:Illu repdt female.jpg|Organs of the female reproductive system.
File:Vulva and shaved pubic area.jpg|Vulva without pubic hair.
File:002 vulva.jpg|Vulva with pubic hair.
File:Clitoris outer anatomy.png|Outer anatomy of clitoris.
File:Clitoris and labia minora.jpg|Clear view of labia minora
File:Vulva and labia minora.jpg|Darker toned labia minora demonstrating normal variation
File:Closed Vagina and trimmed public hair.jpg|Women with unequally long labia (one sticks out)
File:Female vulva with three piercings.jpg|Vulva with pierced labia minora
File:Black genitalia annotated.jpg|Genitalia on a Black woman (Labia minora identified by the number 4)
</gallery>

== See also ==

* ''[[Femalia]]''
* [[Labia pride]]
* [[Labia stretching]]
* [[Labiaplasty]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Labia minora}}
{{Women's health|state=collapsed}}
{{Female reproductive system}}
{{Portal bar|Anatomy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Labia Minora}}
[[Category:Mammal female reproductive system]]
[[Category:Vulva]]

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