Vaginal rugae - wikipedia Vaginal rugae Vaginal rugae are illustrated in this 1891 medical textbook image Vaginal rugae are structures of the vagina that are transverse ridges formed out of the supporting tissues and vaginal epithelium in females. Some conditions can cause the disappearance of vaginal rugae and are usually associated with childbirth and prolapse of pelvic structures. The rugae contribute to the resiliency and elasticity of the vagina and its ability to distend and return to its ( nearly ) previous state. These structures not only allow expansions and an increase in surface area of the vaginal epithelium, they provide the space necessary for the vaginal microbiota. The shape and structure of the rugae are supported maintained by the lamina propria of the vagina and the anterior and posterior rugae. The anterior and posterior columnae rugae are transverse vaginal support structures between which the transverse rugae exist. The cross section of the vagina normally forms a shape that resembles the letter ' H ' due to these structures. Vaginal rugae disappear in those with an estrogen deficiency and those women who are older. The rugae can disappear with anterior vaginal wall prolapse which can occur when supports to the portion located between the vagina and bladder are damaged and the bladder bulges into the vaginal lumen. Vaginal self - examination includes visualizing the presence of vaginal rugae. Anatomists identified rugae of the vagina as early as 1824. Contents 1 Development 2 Clinical considerations 3 Childbirth 4 References Development The appearance and presence of vaginal rugae change over the life span of females and are associated with hormonal cycles, estrogens, childbirth, puberty and menopause. During gynecological examination of prepubescent girls, rugae can be visualized. The vaginal rugae change after menopause. In some older women the rugae are present but become flattened and difficult to see. In others, the rugae tend to disappear. Clinical considerations Other structures can be present on the vaginal wall though most of the time these can be differentiated from rugae. Vaginal cysts can be small protrusions into the vagina that can be felt or palpated by a clinician. Vaginal inclusion cysts can appear as small bumps and can develop after childbirth. Other small structures or protrusions can be Gardner duct cysts, patches of endometrial tissue, and benign tumors. These cystic structures can obliterate the rugae and is a clue to their presence. The absence of vaginal rugae seen in the normal vagina of a healthy women may be an indication of a prolapsed bladder ( cycstocele ) or rectocele. An enterocele, or bulging of the bowel into the vagina can also cause vaginal rugae disappear. The absence of vaginal rugae may also be an indicator of pelvic organ prolapse. Vaginal rugae disappear in those with an estrogen deficiency. Childbirth Vaginal rugae can disappear during the second stage of labor. After a vaginal birth the rugae are not visible and the walls of the vagina are smooth. By the third week postpartum the vagina has become much smaller and the rugae begin to reform on the vaginal walls. Six weeks after birth, the rugae have returned to approximately the same size as they were before the birth. The number of rugae after childbirth decreases. Those women who have not given birth, the rugae are more prominent than in those who have given birth multiple times. References ^ Jump up to : `` Rugae of vagina ''. TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Stratified Squamous Epithelium : Vaginal Lining and Rugae ''. blausen.com. Retrieved 15 February 2018. Jump up ^ Snell, Richard S. ( 2004 ). Clinical Anatomy : An Illustrated Review with Questions and Explanations. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781743167. Jump up ^ Heger, Astrid M. ; Emans, S. Jean ; Muram, David ( 2000 - 09 - 07 ). Evaluation of the Sexually Abused Child : A Medical Textbook and Photographic Atlas. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199747825. Jump up ^ `` Vaginal epithelium ''. www.dartmouth.edu. Dartmouth College. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ Hafez, E.S. ; Kenemans, P. ( 2012 - 12 - 06 ). Atlas of Human Reproduction : By Scanning Electron Microscopy. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789401181402. ^ Jump up to : http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13697130500042490?needAccess=true Jump up ^ `` Vaginal Self - Examination ( VSE ) : Healthwise Medical Information on eMedicineHealth ''. eMedicineHealth. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ Clarke, Charles Mansfield ( 1824 ). Observations on those diseases of females which are attended by discharges : illustrated by copper - plates of the diseases, &c. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Philadelphia : Carey and Lea. Jump up ^ Sugar, Naomi ; Graham, Elinor ( 2006 ). `` Common Gynecologic Problems in Prepubertal Girls '' ( PDF ). Pediatrics in Review. 27. Jump up ^ Bent, Alfred E. ; Cundiff, Geoffrey W. ; Swift, Steven E. ( 2008 ). Ostergard 's Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781770958. ^ Jump up to : `` Vaginal cysts : MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia ''. medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 17. ^ Jump up to : Zimmern, Philippe E. ; Haab, Francois ; Chapple, Christopher R. ( 2007 - 12 - 09 ). Vaginal Surgery for Incontinence and Prolapse. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781846283468. Jump up ^ Kondi - Pafiti, A. ; Grapsa, D. ; Papakonstantinou, K. ; Kairi - Vassilatou, E. ; Xasiakos, D. ( 2008 ). `` Vaginal cysts : a common pathologic entity revisited ''. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology. 35 ( 1 ) : 41 -- 44. ISSN 0390 - 6663. PMID 18390079. Jump up ^ Jayaprakash, Sheela ; M, Lakshmidevi ; G, Sampath Kumar ( 2011 - 07 - 04 ). `` A rare case of posterior vaginal wall cyst ''. BMJ Case Reports. 2011 : bcr0220113804. doi : 10.1136 / bcr. 02.2011. 3804. ISSN 1757 - 790X. PMC 3132834. PMID 22693290. Jump up ^ Craft, T.M. ; Parr, M.J.A. ; Nolan, Jerry P. ( 2004 - 11 - 10 ). Key Topics in Critical Care, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 9781841843582. Jump up ^ Zimmern, Philippe E. ; Haab, Francois ; Chapple, Christopher R. ( 9 December 2007 ). `` Vaginal Surgery for Incontinence and Prolapse ''. Springer Science & Business Media. Retrieved 15 February 2018 -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ Walters, Mark D ; Karram, Mickey M ( 2014 ). Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Saunders. pp. 326 -- 341. ISBN 978 - 0323113779. Jump up ^ Graham, Sam D. ; Keane, Thomas E. ; Glenn, James Francis ( 2010 ). Glenn 's Urologic Surgery. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 238. ISBN 9780781791410. Jump up ^ Mac Bride, Maire B. ; Rhodes, Deborah J. ; Shuster, Lynne T. `` Vulvovaginal Atrophy ''. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 85 ( 1 ) : 87 -- 94. doi : 10.4065 / mcp. 2009.0413. Jump up ^ Chapple, Christopher R. ( 2006 - 01 - 01 ). Multidisciplinary Management of Female Pelvic Floor Disorders. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 0443072728. Jump up ^ O'Connor, Vivienne ; Kovacs, Gabor ( 2003 - 10 - 07 ). Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women 's Health. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521818933. Jump up ^ Hafez, E.S. ; Kenemans, P. ( 2012 - 12 - 06 ). Atlas of Human Reproduction : By Scanning Electron Microscopy. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789401181402. hide Female reproductive system Internal Adnexa Ovaries Follicles corpus hemorrhagicum luteum albicans Theca of follicle externa interna Follicular antrum Follicular fluid Corona radiata Zona pellucida Membrana granulosa Perivitelline space Other Germinal epithelium Tunica albuginea cortex Cumulus oophorus Stroma Medulla Fallopian tubes Isthmus Ampulla Infundibulum Fimbria Ostium Ligaments Ovarian ligament Suspensory ligament Wolffian vestiges Gartner 's duct Epoophoron Vesicular appendages of epoophoron Paroophoron Uterus Regions Body Uterine cavity Fundus Cervix External orifice Cervical canal Internal orifice Supravaginal portion Vaginal portion Uterine horns Layers Endometrium epithelium Myometrium Perimetrium Parametrium Ligaments Round ligament Broad ligament Cardinal ligament Uterosacral ligament Pubocervical ligament General Uterine glands Vagina Fossa of vestibule of vagina Vaginal fornix Hymen Vaginal rugae Support structures Vaginal epithelium External Vulva Labia Mons pubis Labia majora Anterior commissure Posterior commissure Pudendal cleft Labia minora Frenulum of labia minora Frenulum of clitoris Vulval vestibule Interlabial sulci Bulb of vestibule Vaginal orifice vestibular glands / ducts Bartholin 's glands / Bartholin 's ducts Skene 's glands / Skene 's ducts Clitoris Crus of clitoris Corpus cavernosum Clitoral glans Hood Urethra Urethral crest Other G - spot Urethral sponge Perineal sponge hide Epithelial tissue Cells Squamous Cuboidal Columnar Types Simple squamous epithelium Endothelium Mesothelium Simple cuboidal epithelium Simple columnar epithelium Pseudostratified columnar epithelium Respiratory epithelium Stratified squamous epithelium Stratified cuboidal epithelium Stratified columnar epithelium Transitional epithelium Urothelium Glands Types Mechanism Merocrine Eccrine Apocrine Holocrine Sebaceous Meibomian Shape Tubular gland Alveolar gland Secretion Serous glands Mucous glands Components Myoepithelial cell Serous demilune Ducts : Interlobar Interlobular Intralobular Striated Intercalated Acinus / Lobe Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vaginal_rugae&oldid=846303792 '' Categories : Vagina Human female reproductive system Women and sexuality Women 's health Anatomy Gynaecology Epithelium Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 17 June 2018, at 21 : 03. 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Question: where do you find rugae in the reproductive system
Answer: the vagina