The vulva, the external genital area commonly referred to as “pussy,” has two main openings: the urethral opening and the vaginal opening. There are also several smaller glandular openings nearby, but these are typically too tiny to see or feel. Understanding the layout of this area clears up a lot of confusion, since many people grow up without a clear picture of what’s actually down there.
The Two Main Openings
Both primary openings sit within a region called the vestibule, the smooth area of tissue between the inner lips (labia minora) that extends from the clitoris down toward the perineum.
The urethral opening is a small hole located just below the clitoris. It connects to the urethra, a thin tube about 3 to 4 centimeters (roughly 1.5 inches) long in women, and its only job is to carry urine out of the body from the bladder. This opening is small and can be tricky to spot visually, which is one reason many people don’t realize it exists as a separate hole.
The vaginal opening sits just below the urethral opening. This is the larger of the two and serves as the entrance to the vaginal canal, a flexible muscular tube inside the body. It’s the opening involved in penetrative sex, menstruation, and childbirth. The vaginal opening can vary in size and may be partially covered by the hymen, a thin membrane of tissue that naturally wears away over time.
These two openings are completely separate. Urine does not come out of the vagina, and the vaginal canal does not connect to the bladder. They are distinct tubes with distinct exit points, even though they sit very close together.
Smaller Openings You Can’t Really See
Beyond the two main openings, there are several tiny duct openings from glands that provide lubrication. The most notable are the Bartholin’s glands, which sit on either side of the vaginal opening toward the back. Each one has a duct about 2 centimeters long that releases a mucus-like fluid to lubricate the vagina during arousal. Under normal circumstances, these duct openings are essentially invisible to the naked eye.
There are also the Skene’s glands (sometimes called the paraurethral glands), which have small duct openings near the urethral opening. These similarly produce fluid and are microscopic in scale. In addition, the vestibule contains numerous tiny lesser vestibular glands scattered across its surface, each with its own microscopic opening.
So while the technical count of “holes” is higher than two if you include every gland duct, these are not openings you would notice, feel, or interact with in any practical way. For all everyday purposes, there are two.
Vulva vs. Vagina: Why the Distinction Matters
People often use “vagina” to refer to the entire genital area, but the vagina is specifically the internal canal. The vulva is the external part, which includes the outer lips (labia majora), inner lips (labia minora), the clitoris, and the openings described above. The vaginal opening is part of the vulva, but the vagina itself is inside the body.
This distinction matters because the two openings (urethral and vaginal) are located on the vulva, not inside the vagina. If you’re looking at external anatomy, you’re looking at the vulva. The outer third of the vaginal canal, closest to the opening, contains a high concentration of nerve endings, which is why that area is particularly sensitive to touch. Deeper inside, the vaginal canal has fewer nerve endings.
How to Locate Each Opening
If you’re trying to identify these openings on your own body, a hand mirror and good lighting help. Starting from the top and moving downward, the clitoris sits at the front where the inner lips meet. Just below it, you’ll find the urethral opening. It looks like a small dot or dimple. Below that is the vaginal opening, which is noticeably larger and may appear more like a slit than a round hole. The anus, which is not part of the vulva, is a separate opening located further back toward the tailbone.
The spacing between these structures varies from person to person, and the appearance of the labia and surrounding tissue differs widely. There is no single “normal” look, but the order from front to back is always the same: clitoris, urethral opening, vaginal opening, anus.