THE ABDOMEN 



62<ij 



uterus of each side loses itself in this labium, and the fasciae of 

 Camper and of Scarpa of the lower part of the anterior abdominal 

 wall of each side also enter it. The fissure between these labia is 

 called the uro-genital cleft or rima pudendi, and is almost horizontal, 

 its direction being antero-posterior. The blood-supply and nerve- 

 supply of the labia majora correspond with those of the scrotum. 



The lymphatics arise from a rich network in each labium majus, these net- 

 works being connected with each other across the median Une. The most of 

 the efferent vessels pass to the pubic group of inguinal glands, but some may 

 terminate in the superficial femoral or saphenous glands. Some vessels are 

 said to cross the median hne and terminate in the glands of the opposite side. 



Mons Veneris =i 



Anterior Commissure 



Labium Majus 



., --^^ Labium Minus or Nyinpha 



■^P y^'^i j ^'' 44---^—- Meatus Urinarius 



4^ External Orifice of Vagina 



\^___ Fourchette 



'JZIIIJ-S".'. Fossa Navicularis 



« Posterior Commissure 



Fig. 278. — The External Genital Organs of the Female. 



The labia minora, or nymphae, are two narrow, more or less 

 pendulous folds of integument, which are situated in the uro-genital 

 space, each lying internal to the corresponding labium majus. 

 They become continuous with each other anteriorly, in the region 

 of the clitoris, a short distance from the anterior commissure, in 

 a manner to be presently described. From this point they diverge 

 as they pass backwards, and so form the lateral boundaries of 

 the space called the vestibule. Each terminates posteriorly by 

 blending with the inner surface of the corresponding labium majus, 

 or in some cases by becoming continuous with the fraenulum 

 pudendi. Each labium minus has two surfaces, outer and inner, 

 and two borders, superior and inferior. The outer surface is in 

 contact with the inner surface of the labium majus of the same side, 

 and the inner surface touches that of the opposite nympha. Each 

 surface is covered by a modified form of skin, that on the inner 



