What is "labia"

Labia \La"bi*a\, n. pl. See Labium.

Labium \La"bi*um\, n.; pl. L. Labia, E. Labiums. [L.]

1. A lip, or liplike organ.

2. The lip of an organ pipe.

3. pl. (Anat.) The folds of integument at the opening of the vulva.

4. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. The organ of insects which covers the mouth beneath, and serves as an under lip. It consists of the second pair of maxill[ae], usually closely united in the middle line, but bearing a pair of palpi in most insects. It often consists of a thin anterior part (ligula or palpiger) and a firmer posterior plate (mentum).

   2. Inner margin of the aperture of a shell.

from Latin labia, plural of labium "lip" (see lip (n.)). Specifically of the folds on either side of the vulva from 1630s (labia pudendi).

n. The folds of tissue at the opening of the vulva.

1. n. any of the four lip-shaped folds of the female vulva

2. [also: labia (pl)]

See labium

The labia are part of the female genitalia; they are the major externally visible portions of the vulva. In humans, there are two pairs of labia: the labia majora (or the outer labia) are larger and fattier, while the labia minora are folds of skin between the outer labia. The labia surround and protect the clitoris and the openings of the vagina and the urethra.