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Science & Nature • Anatomy

Vagina

The vagina is a muscular, elastic canal in the female reproductive system that connects the vulva to the cervix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The vagina is a muscular, elastic canal in the female reproductive system that connects the vulva to the cervix. It functions in menstruation, sexual intercourse, and childbirth, and its size and shape vary between individuals.

Anatomy

The vagina is a distensible fibromuscular tube in the pelvis. It lies between the bladder and rectum, with the cervix at its upper end and the vaginal opening at its lower end.

Function

The vagina serves as the passage for menstrual flow, receives the penis during sexual intercourse, and forms part of the birth canal during childbirth.

Structure and variation

The vaginal walls are elastic and usually folded, allowing significant stretching. Length and width vary among individuals, and the vagina is typically about 7–10 cm long at rest.

The vulva is the external genital area, while the vagina is the internal canal. Medical sources distinguish these terms because they refer to different anatomical structures.

Key facts

  • The vagina is an internal canal, while the vulva refers to the external genital structures.
  • It extends from the vaginal opening to the cervix at the lower end of the uterus.
  • The vagina allows menstrual blood and tissue to leave the body.
  • It expands during sexual activity and childbirth because its walls are elastic.
  • The vaginal lining is folded, which helps with stretching.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may encounter this term in anatomy education, reproductive health care, sexual health resources, and clinical discussions of menstruation, contraception, pelvic exams, and childbirth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the vagina?
The vagina is a muscular, elastic canal in the female reproductive system that extends from the vulva to the cervix.
What does the vagina do?
It allows menstrual blood to exit the body, serves as a passage during sexual intercourse, and acts as part of the birth canal in childbirth.
How long is the vagina?
It is often about 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long at rest, but its length and width vary and it can stretch significantly.
Is the vagina the same as the vulva?
No. The vulva is the external genital area, while the vagina is the internal canal that leads to the cervix.
Where is the vagina located?
It is in the pelvis, between the bladder in front and the rectum behind.

References

  1. Cleveland Clinic — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22469-vagina
    Supports: Anatomy, location, length, structure, and distinction from vulva
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — https://teachmeanatomy.info/pelvis/female-reproductive-tract/vagina/
    Supports: Anatomy and main functions: intercourse, childbirth, menstruation
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/science/vagina
    Supports: General definition and functions
  4. University of Rochester Medical Center — https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=34&contentid=19522-1
    Supports: Vulva as external part of the female reproductive system
  5. Mayo Clinic — https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/vagina/art-20046562
    Supports: Canal from vulva to cervix and functions in menstruation, sex, childbirth
  6. PubMed Central — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3312145/
    Supports: Fibromuscular structure and typical length