What it means
The external genitalia are the vulva (including the labia and clitoris) in females and the penis and scrotum in males. The internal genitalia include the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, and the testes and their ducts. In newborns, nurses check the genitalia for normal appearance, and ambiguous genitalia need further assessment.
For the nurse
Explain what you are doing, provide privacy, and have a chaperone present according to policy when examining or giving care to the genitalia.
At a glance
| Spanish | genitales |
|---|---|
| Also written | genitals |
Related terms
scrotum
The pouch of skin and muscle that holds the testicles.
genital
Relating to the sex organs, especially the outer ones.
gonad
A sex gland: an ovary or a testis, which makes eggs or sperm and sex hormones.
reproduction
The process by which living things produce offspring.