Read article About the vagina
This page is about the vagina. There is information about
About the vagina
The vagina is the passage that leads from the cervix to the vulva. The cervix is at the bottom of the womb (uterus). The vulva is visible from outside the body. It forms the skin flaps around the entrance to the vagina. The vagina is called the birth canal.
The walls of the vagina are normally in a relaxed state. They touch each other and contain many folds. Small glands in the cervix produce mucus to keep the vaginal lining moist. The vagina stretches during childbirth to allow the baby to come out. The vagina is made up of tissue layers. These include
- The epithelial tissue layer – a thin layer of tissue made up of the squamous cells that line the vaginal walls
- The connective tissue layer – a layer underneath the epithelium, made of fibrous tissue with muscle, lymph vessels and nerves
The lymph nodes
Like all other parts of the body, there are lymph nodes around the vagina. These are also called lymph glands. They are small bean shaped glands that are part of the lymphatic system. They help to control infection by trapping and killing damaged cells, bacteria and viruses. The nearest lymph nodes are usually the first place that cancer cells reach when they break away from a tumour. Your specialist may remove some of the lymph nodes close to the vagina during surgery.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the about vaginal cancer section.
The vagina is the birth canal. It is the passage that leads from the neck of the womb (cervix) to the vulva. The cervix is at the bottom of the womb (uterus). The vulva is visible from outside the body. It forms the skin flaps around the entrance to the vagina. The diagram below shows where the vagina is in relation to the bowel, bladder and womb.
The vagina is about 7.5 to 10 cm long and is the opening that allows blood to drain out each month during your menstrual period. The walls of the vagina are normally in a relaxed state. They touch each other and contain many folds. The vagina opens and expands during sexual intercourse. Small glands in the cervix produce mucus to keep the vaginal lining moist. The vagina stretches during childbirth to allow the baby to come out.
The vagina is made up of tissue layers. These include the following
- The epithelial tissue layer – a thin layer of tissue made up of the squamous cells that line the vaginal walls
- The connective tissue layer – a layer underneath the epithelium, made of fibrous tissue with muscle, lymph vessels and nerves
There are lymph nodes around the vagina. These are also called lymph glands. They are small bean shaped glands that are part of the lymphatic system. They drain fluid from the tissues around the vagina and help to control infection by trapping and killing bacteria and viruses.
The nearest lymph nodes are usually the first place that cancer cells reach when they break away from a tumour. Your specialist may remove some of the lymph nodes during surgery. If so, another specialist will examine them closely under a microscope to see if they contain cancer cells. This tells the doctors the stage of the cancer and helps them to decide on the most suitable treatment. There is more about the lymph glands and the lymphatic system in the about your body section.
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