Definition

1. Noun:
   • The internal canal in female mammals that leads from the vulva to the cervix of the uterus: The vagina is a muscular, tubular structure that forms part of the female reproductive system. It serves as the passageway for menstrual flow, receives the penis during sexual intercourse, and is the birth canal during childbirth.

Usage

• The word "vagina" is a standard anatomical and medical term. It is used in formal, clinical, and biological contexts. In everyday conversation, people may use various euphemisms, but "vagina" is the correct and specific term.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor explained the functions of the vagina during the health class.
  • During childbirth, the baby passes through the vagina.
  • The lining of the vagina changes in response to hormonal cycles.

Advanced Usage

• "Vaginal" (adjective): Pertaining to the vagina.
  • She was prescribed a vaginal cream for the infection.
• In a broader biological context, the term can refer to a sheath-like structure in plants or animals.
  • The leaf base forms a vagina around the stem in some plants.

Variants and Related Words

• Vaginal (adj): Relating to or affecting the vagina.
• Vaginismus (n): A condition involving involuntary muscle spasms in the vagina.
• Vaginitis (n): Inflammation of the vagina.

Synonyms

• Birth canal: Specifically refers to the vagina's role in childbirth.
• Female genital canal: A descriptive synonym used in anatomical contexts.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "vagina" refers specifically to the internal tubular structure. It is distinct from the vulva, which refers to the external female genitalia (including the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening). In casual speech, "vagina" is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to the entire external genital area.

Noun

1. the lower part of the female reproductive tract; a moist canal in female mammals extending from the labia minora to the uterus
   • the vagina receives the penis during coitus
   • the vagina is elastic enough to allow the passage of a fetus