The vulva is the entire external genital area located between your legs. It includes everything you can see on the outside, from the soft mound of tissue over the pubic bone down to the perineum (the skin between the genitals and the anus). Many people use “vagina” as a catch-all term for this whole region, but the vagina is actually a separate internal canal. The vulva is the outer part, and it contains several distinct structures, each with its own role.
What the Vulva Includes
The vulva is not a single structure. It’s a collection of parts that work together for urination, reproduction, and sexual sensation. Those parts include the mons pubis (the rounded mound of fatty tissue over the pubic bone), the labia majora and labia minora (outer and inner lips), the clitoris and its hood, the urethral opening, the vaginal opening, and a set of small glands. All of these sit within the boundaries of the vulva.
Between the inner lips is a smooth area called the vestibule. This is where you’ll find the two key openings: the urethral opening (where urine exits the body), which sits just below the clitoris, and the vaginal opening below that. The vaginal opening is the entrance to the vaginal canal, a muscular tube that extends inward toward the cervix. So while the opening itself is part of the vulva, the canal beyond it is not.
The Labia: Outer and Inner Lips
The labia majora are the two larger, outer folds of skin that form the most visible borders of the vulva. They contain fatty tissue and, after puberty, are typically covered with pubic hair on their outer surface. Their primary job is protective: they cushion the more sensitive structures inside.
Inside the labia majora sit the labia minora, thinner folds of skin that surround the vestibule directly. At the top, the inner lips meet to form the clitoral hood, a small flap of tissue that partially or fully covers the clitoris. The labia minora are rich in nerve endings and blood vessels, which is why they’re more sensitive to touch than the outer lips.
There is enormous natural variation in how labia look. About half of all people with vulvas have inner lips that extend beyond the outer lips. Labia can be pink, brown, reddish, or purplish, and the color often differs from the surrounding skin. They can be smooth or textured, and perfect symmetry between the left and right sides is uncommon. All of this falls within the range of normal.
The Clitoris and Its Location
The clitoris sits at the very top of the vulva, just below where the two inner lips come together. The small, visible nub is called the glans, and it’s the most nerve-dense structure in the vulva. Its sole purpose is sexual pleasure.
What’s visible from the outside is only a fraction of the full clitoris. The rest of the structure extends internally, with two elongated branches that run beneath the surface tissue on either side. The clitoral hood, formed by the upper meeting point of the labia minora, covers some or all of the glans. How much of the glans is exposed varies from person to person.
Glands Within the Vulva
The vulva contains two sets of small glands that most people never notice. Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethral opening. They secrete fluid that lubricates the urethra during urination and helps protect against urinary tract infections. During sexual arousal, these glands swell with increased blood flow and contribute additional lubrication. They may also release fluid during orgasm.
Bartholin’s glands are located near the lower part of the vaginal opening, one on each side. Their primary role is producing moisture that helps lubricate the vaginal entrance. These glands are tiny and not visible or noticeable unless they become blocked or inflamed.
How the Vulva Gets Its Sensation
The vulva is one of the most nerve-rich areas of the body, which is why it’s sensitive to both pleasure and pain. The primary nerve responsible for vulvar sensation is the pudendal nerve, which branches into smaller nerves serving different zones. One branch, the perineal nerve, provides sensation to the perineum and the labia. Another, the dorsal nerve, carries touch, pleasure, and pain signals from the clitoris. This network of nerves is what makes the vulva central to sexual response.
Vulva vs. Vagina
The most common mix-up in everyday language is using “vagina” to mean the entire genital area. The vagina is specifically the internal muscular tube that connects the vaginal opening to the cervix. It’s where menstrual blood exits, where penetration occurs during sex, and where a baby passes through during vaginal delivery. The vulva is everything on the outside: the lips, the clitoris, the openings, and the surrounding skin. They’re connected, but they’re distinct structures with different tissue types and functions.
Getting this distinction right matters for practical reasons. If you’re experiencing irritation, pain, or changes in appearance, being able to pinpoint whether the issue is on the vulva or inside the vagina helps you describe what’s going on accurately. Vulvar conditions and vaginal conditions often have different causes and different treatments.