Labium

Labium is a term used in anatomy to describe a lip-like structure. It is derived from the Latin word for "lip". In humans, the term is used to refer to certain parts of the female genitalia. In insects, it refers to a part of the mouth.

Human anatomy

In human anatomy, the term "labium" is used to refer to parts of the female genitalia. The vulva, the external part of the female genitalia, has two pairs of labia: the labia majora (or the outer labia) and the labia minora (or the inner labia).

The labia majora are larger and fatter than the labia minora. They are similar in appearance to the scrotum in males. The labia majora protect the other parts of the vulva.

The labia minora are situated inside the labia majora, and surround the openings to the vagina and urethra. They can vary widely in size from woman to woman.

Insect anatomy

In insects, the labium is the lowermost of the mouthparts, and is often referred to as the insect's "lower lip". It is part of the insect's feeding apparatus and is typically adapted to each insect's particular diet. For example, in bees, the labium is elongated to form a tube for sucking nectar.

See also

• Clitoris
• Hymen
• Vulvovaginal health
• Mons pubis