Female external genitalia The anatomy of the human female external genitalia. (more) labia minora anatomy Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/labia-minora Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: inner labia, inner lips Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 19, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Also called: inner labia or inner lips (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are the labia minora? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The labia minora are two thin folds of skin within the vulva of the female reproductive system. They are situated between the labia majora and surround the openings of the vagina and the urethra." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the function of the labia minora? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The labia minora protect the vaginal and urethral openings from friction, injury, and pathogens and contribute to sexual arousal and sensation due to their dense network of blood vessels and nerve endings." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How do the labia minora change during sexual stimulation? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "During sexual stimulation the labia minora can swell and change in color due to increased blood flow." } } ] } Top Questions What are the labia minora? The labia minora are two thin folds of skin within the vulva of the female reproductive system. They are situated between the labia majora and surround the openings of the vagina and the urethra.

　　What is the function of the labia minora? The labia minora protect the vaginal and urethral openings from friction, injury, and pathogens and contribute to sexual arousal and sensation due to their dense network of blood vessels and nerve endings.

　　How do the labia minora change during sexual stimulation? During sexual stimulation the labia minora can swell and change in color due to increased blood flow.

　　labia minora, in the female reproductive system, two thin folds of skin situated within the vulva, lying between the outer labia majora and surrounding the openings of the vagina and the urethra. The labia minora lack fatty tissue and hair, and their skin surface is rich in sebaceous and sweat glands. They vary greatly in size, shape, and color among individuals.

　　Anatomically, the anterior, upper folds of the labia minora wrap around the clitoris—the structure in the female genitalia corresponding to the glans penis (excluding the urethra) in the male genitalia—to form the prepuce of the clitoris (or clitoral hood). The lower portion of each fold then passes beneath the clitoris to form its frenulum, before extending in the posterior direction, edging around the vulvar vestibule. The two labia minora are joined at the back across the midline by their frenulum, which becomes stretched during childbirth.

　　The labia minora serve important protective and sexual functions. For example, they act as a shield for the vaginal and urethral openings, protecting them from friction, injury, and pathogens. They also contain a dense network of blood vessels and nerve endings, contributing to sexual arousal and sensation. During sexual stimulation, the labia minora can swell and change in color due to increased blood flow.

　　More From Britannica human reproductive system: External genitalia The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.