Do You Know the Difference Between Vulva & Vagina?

The vulva isn’t merely another name for the vagina, it’s not the vagina at all.  The vagina refers to the muscly tube that is inside of the body. The vulva refers to the outside of the genitals. 

What is the Vulva 

The vulva is the external area of the genitals. This area is made up of many parts. The shape, size and color of the vulva differ from person to person.

The vulva consists of the:

• Labia 
  • Outer labia (labia majora)
  • Inner Labia (labia minora)
    • Labia protect the Urethral & vaginal opening 
• Mons pubis (pubic mound) 
  • The fatty tissue at the top of the vulva. This is where hair commonly grows.  
• Clitoris
  • Usually covered by skin known as a clitoral hood 
  • Part of it can be seen externally as a small round lump at the top of the vulva
    • The rest of it is internal: Crura 
• Urethral Opening 
  • Location: Under the clitoris above the vagina
  • Where pee comes from 
• Vaginal Opening
  • external visual part of the vagina 
• Fouechette
  • A small membrane connecting the labia minora to bottom of the outside of the vagina (bottom of the inner folds) 
• Perineum 
  • The area between the bottom of the vagina and top of the anus.
  • Commonly known as the taint
• Anus 
• Vestibular bulbs
  • The internal bulbs that help with orgasmic contractions ¹
  • Swell up with blood when aroused
  • Help make penetration pleasurable 
• Vulva vestibule
  • The area between the labia that contains the vaginal and urethral opening 
• Bartholin Glands
  • Located on both sides of the vaginal opening
  • Helps lubricate the vagina ²
• Skene Glands
  • Located on both sides of the urethra³
  • Helps lubricate the vagina and urethra 
  • May be responsible for Ejaculation

What is the Vagina

The vagina is a stretchy muscular tubelike organ inside the body that connects the vulva with the cervix and uterus.⁴ The cervix is located inside the vagina and it works as a divider between the vagina and uterus.⁵

The vagina varies between individuals in color, shape, depth and diameter.⁴ 

Final Thoughts

The vagina and vulva are not the same at all. They have different functions and different ways they respond to things. So it makes it important to know the difference between them so you know what you’re working with and how to use it and what you’re doing, Especially when it comes to the context of intimate pleasure. 

Did you know the difference between vulva and vagina before this? Have you used them interchangeably?

Bibliography

• Anatomy of the Vulva. (2024). Rochester.Edu. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=34&contentid=19522-1 
• Anatomy of the vulva physiotherapy patient information. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192- 
• What does the inside of a vagina look like? Diagrams and self-exam. (n.d.). Www.Medicalnewstoday.Com. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/inside-the-vagina 
• Cleveland Clinic. (2022b, April 25). Clitoris: Anatomy, location, purpose & conditions. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22823-clitoris 
• Skene’s gland: Function, location, secretion & conditions. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24089-skenes-gland 

References

1. Puppo, V. [2012]. Anatomy and physiology of the clitoris, vestibular bulbs, and labia minora with a review of the female orgasm and the prevention of female sexual dysfunction. Clinical Anatomy, 26(1), 134–152. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.22177[↩]
2. Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). Bartholin’s cyst – symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bartholin-cyst/symptoms-causes/syc-20369976[↩]
3. Nguyen, J. D, & Duong, H. (2023, July 25). Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis: Female external genitalia. StatPearls Publishing. Nih.Gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547703[↩]
4. Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Vagina: Anatomy, function, conditions & what’s normal. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22469-vagina[↩][↩]
5. Planned Parenthood. (2019). Planned parenthood. Plannedparenthood.Org. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/sexual-and-reproductive-anatomy/what-are-parts-female-sexual-anatomy[↩]