The external sex organs of the woman are as follows: The Mons Veneris;
the Labia Majora; the Labia Minora; the Clitoris; the Meatus Urinarius;
and the Vaginal Orifice. The term "the Vulva" is applied to the external
sex organs of the woman in general, but more particularly to the Labia
Majora and the Labia Minora (the larger and smaller "lips,"
respectively). The term "Vulva" is the Latin term meaning "folding
doors."
THE MONS VENERIS is the fatty eminence or elevation just above the other
external organs, which forms a mount from which its name (literally,
"The Mount of Venus") is derived. At puberty it becomes covered with
hair.
THE LABIA MAJORA are the large "outer lips" or folds of skin which
enclose the Vaginal Orifice, and which are situated just below the Mons
Veneris.
THE LABIA MINORA are the small "inner lips" of folds of membrane, which
are concealed within the Labia Majora, or "outer lips," and are seen
only when the latter are parted.
THE CLITORIS is a small organ, about an inch in length, situated at the
upper part of the Labia Minora or "inner lips," and usually being partly
or wholly covered by the upper borders thereof. At its extremity it has
a small rounded enlargement which is extremely sensitive and excitable,
and which is the principal seat of sensation in the woman's sexual
organism.
THE MEATUS URINARIUS is the orifice of the urethra of the woman, the
purpose of which is to afford an exit for the urine. It is located about
an inch below the Clitoris and is just above the Vaginal Orifice. It is
a common error among uninformed women that the urine passes out through
the Vagina; but this, of course, is incorrect, as the two canals and
their respective orifices are entirely separate from each other, though
situated closely together.
THE VAGINAL ORIFICE is the outer entrance to the Vagina, or Vaginal
Canal or Channel. This orifice is located just below the Meatus
Urinarius. In the virgin it is usually partly closed by what is known as
"THE HYMEN," (vulgarly known as the "maiden head"), although in many
cases the latter is absent even in the case of young girl infants. It
was formerly regarded as an infallible sign of virginity, and its
absence was regarded as a proof that virginity was lacking. But this old
superstition is passing away, for science has shown that the Hymen is
often absent even in the case of young children and infants, and, on the
other hand, is sometimes present after several years of married life,
and even during pregnancy. Much unhappiness has been caused in some
cases where the husband has doubted the virginity of his wife because of
the absence of the Hymen, but consultation with a capable physician
usually removes this misunderstanding.
The Hymen is a membranous fold, sometimes circular in shape, with an
opening in the center, though in other cases it extends only across the
lower part of the orifice. The opening in the center is for the purpose
of allowing the menstrual blood and the other secretions of Uterus and
Vagina to flow through. In a few cases this opening is absent, the Hymen
being what is called "imperforate"; in which case the girl experiences
difficulty when menstruation begins, and a physician is required to make
a slit or opening in it. In some girls and women the Hymen is quite
tough, while in others it is very thin and is easily broken. In the
latter cases the young girl frequently breaks the membrane during
vigorous exercise, such as jumping rope, etc. And, as has before been
said, in some cases infant girls are born without even a trace of the
Hymen. Under the circumstances, it is seen that the presence or absence
of the Hymen is far from being an infallible proof of the presence or
absence of virginity, and the belief in the same is now regarded as
almost a superstition of the past.