Girls and women have three openings in the area between their legs: the urethral opening (where urine comes out), the vaginal opening, and the anus. These three openings are separate from one another, each with its own function, and they’re arranged in a line from front to back.
Where Each Opening Is Located
The three openings sit in a front-to-back sequence. The urethral opening is closest to the front of the body, just below the clitoris. The vaginal opening is directly behind it. And the anus is farthest back. A small patch of skin called the perineum separates the vaginal opening from the anus.
All three openings are close together, which is one reason people sometimes have trouble telling them apart. The urethral opening is especially small and can be hard to see. The vaginal opening is larger and sits within a broader area of external anatomy called the vulva. Many people use the word “vagina” to refer to everything in this region, but the vagina is actually the internal canal. The vulva is the correct term for the external parts you can see, including the labia, clitoris, and the openings to the urethra and vagina.
The Urethral Opening
The urethral opening is the smallest of the three and exists solely to let urine leave the body. It connects to a short tube called the urethra, which runs from the bladder to the outside. In females, this tube is much shorter than in males, which is one reason urinary tract infections are more common in women.
On either side of the urethral opening sit two tiny glands called Skene’s glands, roughly the size of a small blueberry. These glands produce fluid that helps lubricate the area and may play a role in protecting against urinary infections. They’re very difficult to see with the naked eye.
The Vaginal Opening
The vaginal opening is the entrance to the vagina, a flexible muscular canal that leads to the cervix and uterus. It serves three major purposes: menstrual blood exits the body through it, it’s the canal through which babies are delivered (which is why it’s sometimes called the birth canal), and it’s involved in penetrative sex. During arousal, the vaginal walls produce lubrication and the canal expands.
A thin ring of tissue called the hymen partially surrounds the vaginal opening. The hymen naturally has one or more small openings that allow menstrual blood to pass through. Its shape varies widely from person to person. Some hymens have a single central opening, others have a band of tissue across the middle (a septate hymen), and in rare cases the hymen completely covers the opening (an imperforate hymen), which typically requires minor treatment at puberty. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that the hymen is not a reliable indicator of sexual history, and an intact hymen does not mean a person has or hasn’t had sex.
Just outside the vaginal opening, two small glands called Bartholin’s glands release fluid that helps with lubrication during sexual activity. Like the Skene’s glands near the urethra, these are tiny and not visible under normal circumstances.
The Anus
The anus is the opening at the very back, and its only function is to allow solid waste to leave the body. It’s controlled by a ring of muscle called the anal sphincter, which contracts and relaxes to control bowel movements. The anus is not part of the reproductive or urinary system. It belongs to the digestive tract and is present in all sexes.
Why the Distinction Matters
Understanding that these are three separate openings with completely different functions helps with everyday hygiene, sexual health, and general body literacy. Because the urethral opening, vaginal opening, and anus are so close together, wiping from front to back after using the toilet reduces the chance of moving bacteria from the anus toward the urethra or vagina. Knowing the difference also makes it easier to recognize when something feels off, like pain or irritation in a specific area, and describe it accurately.
A major nerve called the pudendal nerve runs through the perineum and branches out to the genitals, pelvic floor muscles, and anus. This shared nerve network is one reason sensations in this area can sometimes feel overlapping or hard to pinpoint, even though the three openings are anatomically distinct.