vagina
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /vədʒˈaɪnə/
US
- /vəˈdʒaɪnə/
Description
- female reproductive canal
- birth canal
- muscular internal passage
The vagina is an elastic, muscular canal inside the female body. It runs from the vaginal opening to the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. It is the passage for menstrual flow, sexual intercourse, and childbirth. In everyday speech, people sometimes use this word when they really mean the vulva, but the two are not the same. The vulva refers to the external genitals, while the vagina is the internal canal.
The vagina is a flexible, muscular canal in the female reproductive system. It extends from the vaginal opening to the cervix, which forms the entrance to the uterus. This part of the body has several important functions: it allows menstrual blood to leave the body, it receives the penis during sexual intercourse, and it forms the passage through which a baby is born. Its walls can stretch and return to shape, which is why it can adapt to different functions.
The word is most common in medical, educational, and everyday discussions about anatomy, sexual health, reproduction, and childbirth. It is important to use it accurately. A common mistake is to use "vagina" as a general word for all female genitals, but that is not precise. The vulva includes the external parts, while the vagina is the internal passage.
In narrative or educational writing, the term may appear in topics ranging from puberty and hygiene to pregnancy, medical care, and body awareness. The tone can be clinical, neutral, or personal depending on the context, but the meaning stays the same: it refers to the internal canal, not the whole genital area. Understanding this distinction helps people speak more clearly about the body and about health.
Examples
- 1
Irritation
Some soaps can irritate the vagina.
- 2
Pain
She felt pain in her vagina and called her doctor.
- 3
Medical exam
During the exam, the doctor checked the vagina for signs of infection.
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- vaginanoun
Forms
- vaginaspluralnoun
- vaginaepluralnoun