Synonyms
vagina engl. : vagina
Definition
The vagina is one of the female sexual organs and is a thin-walled, approximately 6 to 10 cm long, flexible tube of connective tissue and muscles. The so-called portio, the end of the cervix, protrudes into the vagina; its orifice is located in the vaginal vestibule (vestibulum vaginae, vestibulum = atrium).
Anatomy
The vagina extends from the cervix uteri (cervix = neck, uterus = uterus) to the ostium vaginae (orifice), which continues into the vaginal vestibule (vestibulum vaginae, vestibulum = atrium). The part of the vagina near the cervix is the vaginal vault (Fornix vaginae) with a front, a rear and lateral part. The posterior part receives the ejaculated sperm during sexual intercourse, which is why it is also called the “semen container”.
The introitus vaginae (introitus = entrance) is the entrance to the vagina and is located at the ostium. It is closed by the hymen (hymen = wedding god) or the remains of the hymen (Carunculae hymenales). The walls of the vagina have different lengths, the front one being about 2 cm shorter than the back one, and are normally placed directly on top of each other, creating an H-shaped cross-section.
This is widest at the site of the vaginal vault and narrowest in the lower third of the vagina below the pelvic floor muscles (levator gap). With regard to the anatomical position, the front of the vagina contains the bladder and urethra, while the back of the vagina contains the rectum and anal canal. The vagina is connected to these surrounding structures by connective tissue septa.
Between the bladder and vagina it is called the septum vesicovaginale (vesica = urinary bladder), between the urethra and vagina it is called the septum urethrovaginale (urethra = urethra). The septum rectovaginale is located at the back of the vagina towards the rectum. The inside of the vagina shows several longitudinal as well as transverse folds, whereby the longitudinal folds (columnae rugarum; columna = lat.
columnar organ, ruga = lat. skin fold) are raised by venous plexus underneath. A particularly prominent longitudinal fold (carina urethralis; carina = spur, urethra = urethra), on the other hand, is formed by the urethra lying behind it.
The transverse folds in the vagina (Rugae vaginales; ruga = Latin skin fold) in turn usually disappear after the first birth of the woman. The vagina is supplied with blood through several arteries, namely through branches of the arteria uterina (artery of the uterus) and arteria pudenda interna, and through the arteria vesicalis inferior (artery of the urinary bladder). The venous blood of the vagina flows through a venous network, the plexus venosus vaginalis, into the large venous vessels (Venae iliacae internae).
An autonomous nerve plexus, the plexus uterovaginalis, is responsible for the nerve supply of the vagina. The vagina is also connected to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic outflow passes through several lymph nodes (Nodi lymphatici), namely the internal pelvic lymph nodes (Nodi lymphatici iliaci interni) and the superficial lymph nodes of the groin (Nodi lymphatici inguinales superficiales).
