Labia majora

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 17 Jan 2022

The labia majora (singular: labium majus) form the anteroinferior most part of the vulva, they are continuous with the mons pubis anteriorly and the perineum posteriorly. The labia are apposed in the midline forming the, externally-visible, pudendal cleft

Gross anatomy

The labia majora have an outer and an inner surface. The outer surface is continuous anteriorly with the mons pubis, has a pigmented epithelium and is covered with hair. Its inner surface lacks hair and has multiple small sebaceous glands.

The labia are thickest anteriorly, where they fuse at the anterior labial commissure. Posteriorly they do not meet but gradually morph into the surrounding perineal soft tissue. The soft tissue lying between the posterior labia, and superficial to the perineal body, is called the posterior labial commissure.

Relations
  • medial: pudendal cleft (or rima)
  • lateral: medial surface of the upper thighs
  • anterior: mons pubis
  • posterior: perineum and anus
  • superior: labia minora

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