Vagina

The vagina is muscular tube in the female reproductive system that has several functions:

1. Receives the penis during sexual intercourse and subsequently transports the ejaculate to the uterus.

2. Serves as a canal for the sloughed off endometrial lining to leave the body during menstruation.

3. In childbirth, the baby is delivered through the vagina, from the uterus.

Anatomically, the vagina is related to the bladder and urethea anteriorly, the rectum, anal canal and rectouterine pouch posteriorly and the ureters and levator ani muscles laterally.

The following are features of the vagina:

1. It extends from the cervix to the vestibule of the vagina

2. It is the longest part of the birth canal. and its distention during childbirth is limited by the ischial spine and sacrospinous ligaments

3. The vagina forms a recess around the cervix called the fornix. The fornix is divided into three regions:

   • Anterior fornix which is located anterior to the cervix and is related to the vesicouterine pouch. The urinary bladder is palpable through the anterior fornix during a digital examination

   • Lateral fornices are located lateral to the cervix

   • Posterior fornix is located posterior to the cervix and is related to the rectouterine pouch (of Douglas). The rectum, sacral promontory (S1 vertebral body), and coccyx are palpable through the posterior fornix during digital examination.