Guide to the Vagina

"We tend to refer to a woman's entire genital area as the vagina, but female genitals are composed of many different parts which work together. The part of the vagina you can actually see is called the vulva, an umbrella term for several "external" parts which keep bad bacteria out and allow sperm in. The labia majora, or outer lips, are a layer of skin and fat that keeps sex comfortable. The labia minora, or inner lips, guard the interior of the vagina. Some women's labia minora actually extend past their labia majora, and this is normal and completely fine. Inside the labia minora are both the vagina-the canal through which a penis enters and a baby exits-and the urethra. The urethra is a tube that leads from the bladder to carry urine. Right behind it, along the inside of the front wall of the vagina, is the enigmatic G-spot, a dime-sized bulb of tissue that can lead to a powerful orgasm. Located on top of the vaginal opening is the clitoris, another orgasm-inducer, whose sole job is pleasure! It's little wonder, since the clit is composed of the same erectile tissue as the penis. The part of the clitoris that is visible, the glans, is covered by a small hood. A woman's cervix-the opening that leads to the uterus-lies directly north of the vagina. Eggs, which are made in two ovaries, travel to the uterus by way of oviducts which are connected to the ovaries. No wonder the vagina can seem so complicated to navigate!