PERINEUM OF THE FEMALE. 255 



SECTION II. 



PERINEUM OF THE FEMALE. 



The perineum in the female differs from that in the male more Perineum 

 in the external form than the internal anatomy. On the surface it 

 lias special parts distinguishing it, viz., the aperture of the vagina P arts - 

 and the surrounding vulva, which occupy the position of the 

 scrotum in the male. 



Surface-marking. External organs of generation. In the middle 

 line there are the aperture of the anus and the cleft of the vulva, vulva, 

 which are separated from one another by an interval of about an 

 inch. The anus is situate a little further back than in the male. 



The cleft or rima of the vulva is bounded at the sides by the External 

 lalna majora, two prominent folds, thick and rounded in front but labia * 

 becoming thinner as they pass backwards, which correspond to the 

 scrotum of the male. The labia are formed externally by skin, 

 which is provided with scattered hairs, and internally by mucous 



membrane. They are united in front and behind in the anterior and and com- 

 missures. 

 posterior commissures. 



Within the rima, at the fore part, is the clitoris, from which two clitoris, 

 folds of mucous membrane, the labia minora or nymphce, extend internal 

 backwards, one on each side of the aperture of the vagina. At its 

 anterior end each nympha divides into two smaller folds, the outer 

 of which unites with the one of the opposite side so as to form a 

 kind of hood over the front of the clitoris the prceputium clitoridis, Prepuce and 

 while the inner one, much shorter and thinner, is attached to the ci^ris! 

 back of the clitoris in contact with its fellow, the two constituting 

 the fnenulum clitoridis. 



Enclosed by the labia minora, and between the clitoris and the Vestibule, 

 orifice of the vagina, is a median recess about an inch and a half 

 deep, which is called the vestibule. At the hinder part of the Opening of 

 vestibule is the orifice of the urethra (meatus urinarius), surrounded urethra - 

 by a slight eminence, about an inch behind the clitoris, and near 

 the aperture of the vagina. 



The orifice of the vagina varies much in size ; and in the child Aperture of 

 and virgin it is often partly closed behind by a thin semilunar fold vagma< 

 of the mucous membrane the hymen. After the destruction of Hymen and 

 the hymen, small, irregularly shaped projections, the caruncidce caruncles - 

 myrtiformes, are found in its place. 



At the back of the rima, within the posterior commissure of the Fourchette 

 labia, is a narrow transverse fold of the integument called the naviculara. 

 fourchette or frcenulum pudendi ; and to the interval between the 

 frsenulum and the commissure the name fossa nauicularis is given. 



Deep boundaries. The deep boundaries of the perineum are alike Boundaries 

 in both sexes; but in the female the outlet of the pelvis is larger b<Jth sexes. 

 than in the male. 



