Describe the labia minora.

• A. smooth, moist, pink skin with sebaceous and sweat glands
• B. keratinized skin without glands
• C. thick hair-bearing skin
• D. mucous gland tissue

Answer: (A)

Labia minora are thin, hairless folds of vulvar tissue with smooth, moist mucocutaneous skin. They lie inside the larger labia majora and have a rich vascular supply, which gives them a pink appearance. They contain glands—sebaceous glands and sweat glands—that contribute to lubrication and moisture in this region. This combination of nonkeratinized, moisture-retaining skin with embedded glands fits the description of being smooth, moist, pink skin with sebaceous and sweat glands. In contrast, the hair-bearing, thicker keratinized skin of the labia majora and the idea of mucous gland tissue alone don’t describe the minora’s characteristic tissue and secretory components.