Vagina facts for kids
The human vagina is an important part of the female body. It is a tube-like passage located inside the lower part of the body, between the bladder and the rectum. The vagina has several key jobs. It is the path through which menstrual fluid (the blood and tissue that leaves the body during a girl's monthly period) exits. It also stretches to allow a baby to be born from the uterus during birth.
What is the Vagina?
The vagina is a muscular tube, about 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 centimeters) long in adults. It connects the uterus (where a baby grows) to the outside of the body. The walls of the vagina are very flexible, which allows them to stretch a lot, especially during childbirth.
Main Jobs of the Vagina
The vagina has two main functions that are important for the female body:
Menstruation
Every month, a girl's body prepares for a possible pregnancy. If a pregnancy does not happen, the lining of the uterus is shed. This shedding is called menstruation, or a period. The menstrual fluid, which is made of blood and tissue, travels from the uterus, through the cervix (the opening of the uterus), and out of the body through the vagina. This process is a normal part of growing up for girls and usually starts between the ages of 10 and 15.
Childbirth
When a baby is ready to be born, the vagina acts as the "birth canal." During labor, the muscles of the uterus push the baby downwards. The vagina stretches wide to allow the baby to pass through it and out of the mother's body. This amazing ability to stretch and then return to its normal size is one of the vagina's most important features.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Vagina para niños
