ABSTRACT
Vagina is a muscular tube extends from the cervix to hymenal ring. Inner mucosal layer of the vagina is formed by a thick, nonkeratinizing, stratiied, squamous epithelium overlying a basement membrane containing many papillae. Levator ani muscle and urogenital diaphragm support the vagina. Vagina is attached to the rectum posteriorly via rectal pillar and anteriorly attached to the bladder via bladder pillar. The upper vagina receives its blood supply from uterine and internal pudendal arteries. The lower part of the vagina receives its blood supply from inferior rectal artery and other branches from internal pudendal artery. Vaginal venous plexus mainly drains into the pelvic wall through a parametrial vein, and lesser degree to vesical and rectal plexuses. Lymphatic drainage from the vagina is as follows: (a) lower third to inguinal femoral then to external iliac lymph nodes, (b) middle third to mainly internal iliac and external iliac lymph nodes and (c) upper third to common iliac, internal iliac and pre-sacral lymph nodes. Basic anatomy of the vagina is shown in Fig. 4.1.
