Vaginal fornix
| Vaginal fornix | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment. SM. INT. Small intestine. | |
| Latin | Fornix vaginae |
| Gray's | subject #269 1264 |
The fornices of the vagina (sing. fornix of the vagina or fornix vaginae) are the deepest portions of the vagina, extending into the recesses created by the vaginal portion of cervix. The word 'fornix' is Latin for 'arch'.
There are three named fornices:
- The posterior fornix is the larger recess, behind the cervix. It is close to the rectouterine pouch.
- There are two smaller recesses in front and at the sides:
- the anterior fornix is close to the vesicouterine pouch.
- the lateral fornix.
During sexual intercourse in the missionary position, the tip of the penis reaches the anterior fornix, while in the rear-entry position it reaches the posterior fornix.[1]
Some women receive enjoyment from stimulation of the fornices, while other women say that their fornices cannot be stimulated without stimulation of the cervix, which may be painful.[citation needed]
The fornices appear to be close to one reported erogenous zone, the cul-de-sac, which is near the posterior fornix.
See also
References
- ↑ A. FAIX, J. F. LAPRAY, O. CALLEDE, A. MAUBON, K. LANFREY (2002). "Second Experience in Missionary Position and Initial Experience in Posterior Position". Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 28(s): 63–76. doi:10.1080/00926230252851203. PMID 11898711.
External links
- MedEd at Loyola Grossanatomy/dissector/practical/pelvis/pelvis14.html
- 43:10-0201 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Pelvis: The Vagina"
- BU Histology Learning System: 19401loa - "Female Reproductive System: cervix, longitudinal"
- Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_35/35-2.HTM
This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||