The upper portion of the vagina encircles the vaginal part of the uterine cervix. The vagina touches the empty bladder on the ventral and superior surface. Inferiorly the vagina adheres to the posterior wall of the urethra and opens adjacent to the labia minora. The vaginal lining has many transverse ridges, or folds. Vaginal tissues receive blood supply from uterine arteries and sometimes branches of the internal iliac artery.
Blood returns to the venous system through veins that empty into the internal iliac veins.
Lymphatic drainage is via the external and internal iliac lymph nodes and superficial inguinal lymph nodes. The muscles of the pelvic floor provide important support to the vagina and uterus . The vagina is moistened by primarily by mucous secretions from the cervix. Secretions from the vaginal epithelial cells containing glycogen and water also play a role. Vaginal epithelium is stratified squamous epithelium having a thickness of 15-200 microns.