vulvar

vulvar — noun

1. in clinical or anatomical writing, the outer female sex organs taken together as

1.nounC2
Definition

in clinical or anatomical writing, the outer female sex organs taken together as one structure, made up of the soft tissue folds, the small sensitive tip at the front, and the opening to the inside passage.

Example

Dr. Indra explained that the vulvar was healthy and showed no signs of infection after the exam.

subject is usually a medical professional describing findings

The textbook diagram clearly labelled each part of the vulvar for the nursing students to memorise.

common in medical or anatomy teaching contexts

Common collocations
  • the vulvar region
  • examined the vulvar
  • near the vulvar
Synonyms
  • vulva

    the standard everyday noun for the same body part

  • pudendum

    older medical or Latin-derived term; now uncommon

Grammar Patterns

the vulvar

Usage Note

Almost always seen in technical medical writing; in everyday English the related word 'vulva' is used instead.

Common Mistakes

I felt pain in my vulvar.
I felt pain in my vulva.
in everyday speech the noun is 'vulva'; 'vulvar' as a noun is rare and limited to clinical contexts.

Word family

  • vulva
    nounC2
  • vulval
    adjectiveC2
  • vulvitis
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words refer to parts of the external female reproductive area, but they sit at different points in real usage. 'Vulva' is the standard everyday and medical noun and the one most readers and clinicians use today. 'Vulvar' as a noun is uncommon and appears mostly inside specialist anatomy or surgical writing where the adjective form has been pushed into a noun slot. 'Pudendum' is an older Latin-based term that survives mostly in formal anatomy textbooks and is now rare in clinical speech. 'Genitalia' is broader and can refer to either male or female outer organs, so it is the right choice when the discussion is not limited to female anatomy. Example: 'The doctor examined the vulva' is natural; 'The textbook labels the vulvar' is technical; 'The surgeon worked on the genitalia' is broader.

vulva ↗pudendum ↗genitalia

Common collocations

Nouns

  • vulvar region
  • vulvar tissue
  • vulvar area

Phrases

  • examined the vulvar
  • diagram of the vulvar

Prepositions

  • near the vulvar
  • around the vulvar

Etymology

LatinLate LatinEnglish

Comes from the Latin word 'vulva' meaning a wrapping or covering, used in late Latin medical writing for the outer female sex organs. English borrowed the noun in the 1500s, and the adjective form 'vulvar' appeared in the 1800s as scientific writing grew. In modern English the adjective is far more common than the noun.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above