hymen

hymen

 [hi´men]

the membranous fold partly or completely closing the vaginal orifice. adj., adj hy´menal.

hy·men

(hī'men), [TA]

A thin, membranous fold of highly variable appearance that partly occludes the ostium of the vagina before its rupture (which may occur for a variety of reasons). It is frequently absent (even in virgins), although remnants are commonly present as hymenal caruncula tags.

[G. hymēn, membrane]

hymen

/hy·men/ (hi´men) the membranous fold partially or wholly occluding the external vaginal orifice.hy´menal

hymen

(hī′mən)

n.

A membranous fold of tissue that partly or completely occludes the external vaginal orifice.

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hy′men·al adj.

hymen

[hī′mən]

Etymology: Gk, membrane

a fold of mucous membrane, skin, and fibrous tissue that covers the introitus of the vagina. It may be absent; small; thin and pliant; or, rarely, tough and dense, completely occluding the introitus. When the hymen is disrupted, small rounded "tags" of tissue remain. See also carunculae hymenales.

hymen

A mucosal membrane which partially blocks the vaginal introitus (opening), the integrity of which is regarded as a sign of female virginity.

hy·men

(hī'mĕn) [TA]

A thin membranous fold, highly variable in appearance, which partly occludes the ostium of the vagina before its rupture, which may occur for a variety of reasons. It is frequently absent, even in virgins, although remnants are commonly present as hymenal tags (caruncula).

[G. hymēn, membrane]

hymen

The thin, fringe-like ring of skin that partly occludes the lower end of the vagina in the virgin. Hymens vary considerably in thickness and extent and may even be imperforate, requiring a minor operation to allow menstruation. The hymen is usually torn during the first sexual intercourse and this may cause some bleeding. From the Greek Humen , the God of marriage.

hymen

a fold of mucous membrane stretched across the entrance to the vagina in some mammals. There is normally a small opening in it and the hymen is ruptured during the first copulation.

Hymen

A membrane that partially or completely covers the vaginal opening.

Mentioned in: Amenorrhea, Vulvodynia

hymen

the membranous fold partly or completely closing the vaginal orifice usually inconspicuous in domestic animals.

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imperforate hymen, persistent hymen

white heifer disease associated commonly with cattle with all-white coats but occurs also in cattle of other colors and sporadically in other species. The heifer comes on heat and may breed but with difficulty and with straining afterwards. On rectal examination there is a distended uterus. The membrane may be rupturable and the animal conceive but there may be other tubular defects and the animals are best discarded.