The word “pussy” is slang for the female genitals, which in medical terms include two distinct parts: the vulva (everything visible on the outside) and the vagina (the muscular canal on the inside). Most people use the word to refer to the whole area between a woman’s legs, but understanding what’s actually there reveals a surprisingly complex system built for reproduction, protection, and sensation.
Vulva vs. Vagina: Two Different Things
One of the most common mix-ups in anatomy is using “vagina” to describe everything down there. The vagina is actually just the internal canal. The vulva is the correct term for all the external structures you can see, including the outer and inner lips, the clitoris, and the openings to both the vagina and the urethra (where urine exits).
The vaginal opening sits inside the vulva, but the vulva includes much more than that single opening. Thinking of it this way helps: the vulva is the outside, the vagina is the inside.
External Anatomy
The outermost structures are the labia majora, two relatively large, fleshy folds of skin that enclose and protect everything else. They contain sweat and oil glands that produce natural lubrication. During puberty, hair grows on their outer surface.
Just inside the labia majora sit the labia minora, thinner folds of tissue that can range from very small to about two inches wide. Their size, shape, and color vary enormously from person to person. A rich blood supply gives them a pinkish color, and during arousal they swell with blood, becoming more sensitive. The labia minora surround the openings to both the vagina and the urethra, acting as a secondary layer of protection.
At the top, where the labia minora meet, sits the clitoris. This small, visible nub is just the external tip of a much larger internal structure. Research from Oregon Health & Science University found the clitoris contains more than 10,000 nerve fibers, about 20% more than the older estimate of 8,000 that was based on animal studies. Its sole purpose is sexual pleasure, and it can become erect during arousal, similar to a penis.
Internal Anatomy
The vagina is a flexible, muscular canal that connects the external genitals to the uterus. Its walls have three layers: an inner lining with textured folds (called rugae), a middle layer of smooth muscle, and an outer layer rich in collagen and elastic fibers. That outer layer is what allows the vagina to stretch significantly during sex and childbirth, then return to its resting size afterward.
At the top of the vaginal canal sits the cervix, a tunnel-like muscular structure that acts as a gateway between the vagina and the uterus. It has two openings: one facing the vagina and one leading into the uterus. The cervix allows menstrual blood to flow out and sperm to travel in, and it dilates during labor to let a baby pass through.
Glands That Provide Lubrication
Two small glands called Skene’s glands sit on either side of the urethral opening. During sexual arousal, they swell with increased blood flow and release fluid that lubricates the area. They also secrete a substance during urination that helps protect against urinary tract infections by limiting bacterial spread. During orgasm, these glands may release additional fluid, which is believed to be related to what’s sometimes called female ejaculation.
How the Vagina Stays Clean
The vagina is self-cleaning. It maintains a slightly acidic environment, with a normal pH between 3.8 and 4.5, which supports beneficial bacteria and blocks harmful microbes from gaining a foothold. This balance produces vaginal discharge, a mix of old cells, healthy bacteria, and mucus that flushes out what the body doesn’t need.
Discharge is completely normal and changes in color and texture throughout the menstrual cycle. Clear and stretchy around ovulation, thicker and white at other times. The external vulva can be washed gently with water, but the internal vagina doesn’t need soap, douches, or other products. Those can actually disrupt the pH balance and cause infections rather than prevent them.
How It Changes During Puberty
Female genitals change significantly during puberty, which typically begins between ages 8 and 13 in the United States. Rising levels of estrogen drive the maturation of the vagina, uterus, and ovaries. Pubic hair begins to grow shortly after breast development starts, and the labia may darken in pigmentation. Body fat also increases and redistributes to the hips and thighs. These changes happen gradually over several years and follow a predictable sequence, though the timing varies widely from person to person.
Normal Variation
There is no single “normal” appearance for female genitals. Labia minora can be symmetrical or uneven, small or prominent, pink or brownish. The clitoral hood can cover the clitoris partially or almost completely. The color, texture, and amount of pubic hair all vary. Pornography and media often present a narrow view of what genitals look like, but in reality, the range of normal is wide. Differences in size, shape, and color are not medical concerns unless they cause pain or functional problems.