# Male equivalent of "vulva"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 10, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386 "2004-07-10T00:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/1 "2004-07-10T00:41:51Z")
Is there a word for the external genital organs of the male? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/2 "2004-07-10T01:01:04Z")
Mulva? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/3 "2004-07-10T01:06:48Z")
How about cock and balls? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/4 "2004-07-10T01:11:57Z")
Genitalia is used for both sexes. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/5 "2004-07-10T02:00:30Z")
Penis. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/6 "2004-07-10T02:15:45Z")
I always thought it was the ā€œgroin.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/7 "2004-07-10T02:36:40Z")
Male equivalent of ā€˜vulvaā€™? _vulvo_ of course. Itā€™s the plurals thatā€™ll get youā€¦ šŸ†’ ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/8 "2004-07-10T04:52:03Z")
If youā€™re a Swede, itā€™s _Volvo._ If youā€™re into Yiddish words, itā€™s :wally . Iā€™m not taking it any further. You know how I can get carried away. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/9 "2004-07-10T04:56:19Z")
The male equivalent was the opening thru which the testicles descended. Hopefully the hole then closed as the sack was formed to hold those two jewels. I could tell you a story about an infected prostrate; lifting something heavy causing the infection to be able to get thru; and the pain of standing upā€¦but nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/10 "2004-07-10T05:03:25Z")
ā€œJunkā€ ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/11 "2004-07-10T05:12:36Z")
The scrotum, I guess. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/12 "2004-07-10T05:42:33Z")
Well, I learned that ā€œjunkā€ in **Embryology** , some 40 years ago. Since there are doubts this may clear up some of it for you. > [@](#): > > The next phase, one of differentiation, begins first in gonads that are to become testes, and a week or so later in those destined to be ovaries. Embryos of the two sexes are initially alike in possessing similar duct systems linking the undifferentiated gonads with the exterior and in having similar external genitalia, represented by three simple protuberances. The embryos each have four ducts, the subsequent fate of which is of great significance in the eventual anatomical differences between men and women. Two ducts closely related to the developing urinary system are called mesonephric, or wolffian, ducts. In males, each mesonephric duct becomes differentiated into four related structures: a duct of the epididymis, a ductus deferens, an ejaculatory duct, and a seminal vesicle (see below). In females, the mesonephric ducts are largely suppressed. The other two ducts, called the paramesonephric or mĆ¼llerian ducts, persist, in females, to develop into the uterine tubes, the uterus, and part of the vagina; in males they are largely suppressed. Differentiation also occurs in the primitive external genitalia, which in males become the penis and scrotum, and in females the clitoris and labia. Note that the paramesonephric ducts develop in the female but are supressed after the gonads decsent thru and are then housed in the scrotum. If the gonads do not descend they become ovaries. I guess you think there is a much bigger difference between male and female. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/13 "2004-07-10T05:50:28Z")
Meat and two veg? ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/14 "2004-07-10T05:56:05Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > Well, I learned that ā€œjunkā€ in **Embryology** , some 40 years ago. No no, I wasnā€™t calling your post into question. ā€œJunkā€ is a term that can refer to the external male genitalia. You know, ā€œOuch! I got kicked in the junk!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/15 "2004-07-10T06:23:39Z")
Itā€™s really more of a linguistic question than a physiological one. The vulva is the external genital organs of the female, i.e. labia majora and labia minora, clitoris, opening of the urethra, and the opening of the vagina, possibly also including the Bartholinā€™s glands and mons veneris if youā€™re being inclusive. The male equivalent would have to include the penis (and associated urethral opening) and scrotum. _Junk_ is probably the closest term, if not strictly defined so. _Meat and two veg_ and _cock and balls_ arenā€™t **a** word. _Groin_ is too inclusive, and has a specific and more expansive anatomic meaning. _Scrotum_ and _penis_ too exclusive. Genitals or _genitalia_ is often used to describe the external sex organs, but it can be used to include the internal as well, and isnā€™t really the male equivalent. I like _vulvo_ and _mulva_, very funny. The question was probably inspired by [this page](http://myvag.net/vulva/), and I figured that it must have been defined for guys too at some point, but apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/16 "2004-07-10T06:38:36Z")
Wedding tackle? ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/17 "2004-07-10T07:03:18Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Wedding tackle? Donā€™t make me kick you in the junk. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/18 "2004-07-10T14:00:31Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > I guess you think there is a much bigger difference between male and female. There is enough of one to satisfy the likes of me, thankyouverymuch. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![cromulent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b4bc9f/32.png) [@cromulent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cromulent)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/19 "2004-07-10T14:04:54Z")
Well, so long as weā€™re listing these things, how about ā€œpudenda,ā€ referring to the genitals of both men and women. (Itā€™s an ugly word, though. I like ā€œgenitalsā€ much better.) ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386/20 "2004-07-10T14:17:47Z")
> [@cromulent](#): > > Well, so long as weā€™re listing these things, how about ā€œpudenda,ā€ referring to the genitals of both men and women. > > (Itā€™s an ugly word, though. I like ā€œgenitalsā€ much better.) It is very ugly. Also, M-W defines it as ā€œthe external genital organs of a human being and especially of a womanā€. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-vulva/254386.md?page=2)