Vulva vs. vagina: interactive anatomy diagram

Learn the difference between vulva and vagina with a numbered anatomy diagram. Explore seven terms and copy a phrase for a health conversation.

Free to use Part of Playbook 02

This is a vocabulary guide, not a self-examination or diagnostic tool. Shapes, size, color, and symmetry vary. The map shows simplified relative positions, not how your body should look; anatomy can also differ after surgery.

A little clarity

Outside and inside are different

Front · toward the pubic area ↑

↓ Back · toward the anus

Numbers are controls, not body measurements. Choose a number or its name below.

The outside area

Vulva

The collective name for the external genitals. It includes the labia, clitoral area, and the openings of the urethra and vagina.

A way to say it

I mean the outside area, the vulva.

You do not need to know the exact name to ask for help. “I’m not sure which area” is a useful starting point too.

Read all seven terms together

Vulva: The collective name for the external genitals. It includes the labia, clitoral area, and the openings of the urethra and vagina.
Outer labia: The outer folds of skin. They surround and help protect the inner structures.
Inner labia: The inner folds of skin around the urethral and vaginal openings. Their shape and size vary.
Clitoral area: The area of the clitoral hood and external tip. This diagram marks that external area, not the whole clitoris.
Urethral opening: The opening of the urethra, the tube carrying urine from the bladder. It is separate from the vaginal opening.
Vaginal opening: The entrance from the outside into the vaginal passage. The opening and the passage inside are different locations.
Vagina: The internal passage extending from the vaginal opening to the cervix. It is different from the vulva on the outside.

This tool stores no selections. If a symptom or change concerns you, contact a health professional; choosing a location cannot identify its cause.

Make the most of this tool

Explore a labeled vulva map and the vaginal passage

Choose an outside area by its number or name to see the definition and a conversation phrase. Switch to the inside view to understand the vaginal passage, or open the full glossary to read all seven terms.

Does the vulva diagram show what my body should look like?

No. It is a simplified vocabulary map, not an appearance standard or a diagnostic image. Bodies vary in shape, size, color, and symmetry.

Do I need to know the exact anatomy term before asking for help?

No. You can say you are unsure which area you mean. The definitions and phrases are optional aids for describing a concern, not a test you need to pass.

Behind this tool

Research checked October 8, 2026. The illustrations and conversation phrases are original. Sources inform the terminology, the difference between internal and external anatomy, and normal variation.