Meaning & use
labia majora
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluralmedicaltechnical
The two larger, outer folds of skin that lie on either side of the opening of the vagina and protect the inner parts of the female genitals.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb: the labia majora are covered with hair after puberty.
Patterns
- the labia majora of a woman
The labia majora cover and protect the more delicate tissues inside.
The doctor explained that the labia majora vary in size from person to person.
Diagrams in the textbook show the labia majora and the labia minora side by side.
Word forms
| singular | labium majus |
|---|
Common combinations
- swelling of the labia majora
- Swelling of the labia majora should be checked by a doctor.
- labia majora and minora
- The chapter describes the labia majora and minora.
- outer labia majora
- The nurse used the diagram to point out the labia majora.
- skin of the labia majora
- The skin of the labia majora contains oil and sweat glands.
Synonyms and how they differ
- outer lips
- Outer lips is the everyday, non-technical way of saying the same thing, while labia majora is the proper medical term.
- vulva
- Vulva is the wider term for all the external female genitals, of which the labia majora are only one part.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: labia majora or labia minora?
labia majora vs labia minora
Majora means larger and outer; minora means smaller and inner. They are different structures.
Practice
In anatomy, which term describes the larger outer folds of the vulva?
Choose one answer.
Majora means larger and these are the outer folds. The labia minora are the smaller inner pair, so that option is the tempting wrong one.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “labia majora”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.