Vulva
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Bell D, Yap J, Hacking C, et al. Vulva. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-61095
rID:
61095
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Joshua Yap had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Joshua Yap's current disclosures
Revisions:
15 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Vulvae
- Pudendum
- Vulvas
- Pudenda
- Female external genitalia
- Vulvar anatomy
The vulva (plurals: vulvas or vulvae), also known as the pudendum, (plural: pudenda) is the collective term given to the female external genitalia.
The vulva consists of the:
On this page:
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is usually the first-line modality when imaging is required, with judicious adjunct use of MRI.
CT
Individual component structures of the vulva (apart for the mons pubis and labia majora +/- labia minora) can be difficult to distinguish on CT where soft tissue contrast is poor.
MRI
MRI can distinguish most of the individual structures, including the internal structure of the clitoris.
History and etymology
"Vulva" (earlier term "volva") is Latin for "womb".
Related pathology
References
- 1. Gray, H. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/.
- 2. Chummy S. Sinnatamby. Last's Anatomy. (2018) ISBN: 9780702033957
- 3. Robert K. Barnhart, Sol Steinmetz. Chambers Dictionary of Etymology. (1999) ISBN: 9780550142306
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Endometriosis
- Vulval neoplasms
- Hymen
- Labia majora
- Female reproductive system
- Primary vulval cancer
- Periurethral cystic lesions
- Blue rubber bleb naevus syndrome
- Pleomorphic adenoma
- Extramammary Paget disease
- Vulvodynia
- Transverse vaginal septum
- Mons pubis
- Folliculitis
- Vulva
- Bartholin glands
- Vagina
- Ganglion impar
- Cellular angiofibroma
- Accessory breast tissue
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- umbilical artery
- superior vesical artery
- obturator artery
- vaginal artery
- inferior vesical artery
- uterine artery
- middle rectal artery
-
internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
-
perineal artery
- posterior scrotal artery
- transverse perineal artery
- artery to the bulb
- deep artery of the penis/clitoris
- dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris
- inferior gluteal artery
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses
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