The fornices of the vagina (sing. fornix of the vagina or fornix vaginae) are the superior portions of the
vagina
In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...
, extending into the recesses created by the
vaginal portion of cervix
The cervix or cervix uteri (Latin, 'neck of the uterus') is the lower part of the uterus (womb) in the human female reproductive system. The cervix is usually 2 to 3 cm long (~1 inch) and roughly cylindrical in shape, which changes during ...
. The word "fornix" is Latin for "arch".
Structure
There are two named fornices:
*The posterior fornix is the larger recess, behind the
cervix. It is close to the
recto-uterine pouch
The rectouterine pouch (recto-uterine pouch), pouch of Douglas, or rectovaginal pouch is the extension of the peritoneum between the rectum and the posterior wall of the uterus in the human female. Its anterior boundary is formed by the posterio ...
.
*There are three smaller recesses in front and at the sides:
**the anterior fornix is close to the
vesico-uterine pouch
In human female anatomy, the vesicouterine pouch, also uterovesicle pouch, is a fold of peritoneum over the uterus and the bladder. Like the rectouterine pouch, it is a female pelvic recess, but shallower and closer to the anterior fornix of the ...
.
**the two lateral fornices.
Sexual stimulation
During
sexual intercourse in the
missionary position
The missionary position or man-on-top position is a sex position in which, generally, a woman lies on her back and a man lies on top of her while they face each other and engage in vaginal intercourse. The position may also be used for other ...
, the tip of the penis reaches the anterior fornix, while in the
rear-entry position it reaches the posterior fornix.
The fornices appear to be close to one reported
erogenous zone
An erogenous zone (from Greek , ''érōs'' "love"; and English ''-genous'' "producing", from Greek , ''-genḗs'' "born") is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity, the stimulation of which may generate a sexual response, s ...
, the
cul-de-sac, which is near the posterior fornix.
See also
*
G-spot
The G-spot, also called the Gräfenberg spot (for German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg), is characterized as an erogenous area of the vagina that, when stimulated, may lead to strong sexual arousal, powerful orgasms and potential female ejacu ...
References
External links
*
* – "The Female Pelvis: The Vagina"
* – "Female Reproductive System: cervix, longitudinal"
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaginal Fornix
Vagina