Читать книгу Ridley's The Vulva - Группа авторов - Страница 59

The labia minora are two thin folds of keratinised skin that lie medial to the labia majora and lateral to the vestibule. They are separated from the labia majora by interlabial folds (sulci) in which the normal secretions from the adjacent skin surfaces may accumulate. Anteriorly, the labia minora divide into lateral and medial parts. The lateral parts join in a fold of skin over the glans to form the prepuce or hood of the clitoris, and the medial parts join under the clitoris to form its frenulum. Posteriorly, the labia minora fuse to form a transverse fold behind the vaginal opening, the fourchette.

There is great variation in the size and symmetry of the labia minora (Figure 2.2a–d). In a study of 319 women, the length of the labia minora was associated with height and weight, and 23.8% of women had a 30% difference in the width of the labia minora on each side, confirming the asymmetry seen [7]. In 44 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19, variation in length and width was again confirmed, with 43% showing asymmetry [10]. They can sometimes be bifid in their anterior insertion (Figure 2.2d).

There is also wide variation in the texture of the labia minora. In a study of 50 women, the rims of the labia minora were smooth in 14, moderately rugose in 34, and markedly rugose in 2 [6]. Pigmentation of the rims is very common and was confirmed in 41 of the 50 patients.