labia minora

[ ley-bee-uh mi-nawr-uh, -nohr-uh ]

plural noun

, Anatomy.

, singular la·bi·um mi·nus [ley, -bee-, uh, m , mahy, -n, uh, s].

1. the inner folds of skin of the external female genitalia.

labia minora

/ mɪˈnɔːrə /

plural noun

1. the two small inner folds of skin in human females forming the margins of the vaginal orifice

Word History and Origins

Origin of labia minora¹

1830–40; < New Latin: lesser lips

Word History and Origins

Origin of labia minora¹

C18: New Latin: smaller lips

Example Sentences

In her complaint, the patient wrote that she ultimately left the practice and sought care from another doctor who told her that Brock had stitched her labia minora together, leaving only a small opening for her vagina.

From Los Angeles Times

With a Q-tip, Dr. Rubin probes each part of the vulva for pain, pointing out the labia minora, labia majora and vaginal opening as her patient follows along.

From New York Times

When performed poorly, a labiaplasty — a procedure to reduce the size of the labia minora, and one of the fastest-growing cosmetic surgeries worldwide — can also damage nerves, leading to genital pain and loss of sexual sensation.

From New York Times

Nymphae, a slightly older term for the labia minora, comes from the Latin word for bride or beautiful young maiden.

From New York Times

The cutting and repositioning of the labia minora and the labia majora - the outer skin folds that surround the vagina.

From BBC