Virginity (virgo intacta)

A virgin is a female who has not experienced sexual intercourse.

 

Signs of virginity:

A. Genital signs

1. Labia majora:
They are adjacent to each other and close to the vaginal orifice

2. Labia minora:
Soft, pinkish, smaller, covered by labia majora

3. Hymen:
It is an intact, firm, non-elastic, narrow opening, hardly passed small finger

4. Clitoris:
Small and vestibule is narrow

5. Vagina:
Narrow, tight, mucosa is rugose, more folded, reddish in color.

6. Posterior commissure & fourchette are intact

 

B. Extra genital signs

1. Breast:
Small, firm, nipple small, areolar small, pinkish

2. Other
All signs of pregnancy and delivery will be absent

 

When a virgin is placed in lithotomy position with legs wide apart, the vagina remains closed and only the edges of labia minora are seen slightly protruding from between the closed labia majora.

The lower portions of labia minora fuse in the midline and form a fold called fourchette. Anteriorly they divide to enclose the clitoris and unite with each other in front and behind the clitoris to form prepuce and frenulum respectively.

The vestibule is the triangular surface that extends from the clitoris above to the anterior margin of the hymen below, and laterally to the labia minora.

Vulva includes the mons veneris (pad of fat lying in front of the pubis), clitoris, labia majora and minora, vestibule, hymen, and urethral opening.

The perineum is the wedge-shaped area between the lower end of the posterior wall of the vagina and the anterior anal wall.

 

Defloration

Loss of virginity i.e., experiencing sexual intercourse by a woman for once at least.

 

Signs of defloration:

1. Breast - Pendulous, hanged, enlarged

2. Labia majora - Flabby and not opposed, a gap on adduction of the thigh

3. Labia minora - Cutaneous in appearance, remains separate

4. Hymen - Ruptured

5. Vagina - Roomy vagina admits more than 2 fingers

6. Fourchette and posterior commissure - Torn

 

Medico-legal Importance of Virginity:

1. Nullity of marriage

2. Divorce

3. Defamation

4. Rape

5. Fabricated (false) charge of rape

 

Difference between virginity and defloration

 

Traits	Virginity	Defloration
Basic difference	Having no experience of sexual intercourse	Having experience of sexual intercourse
Genital signs:
Labia majora:	They are adjacent to each other, fully developed, and completely close to the vaginal orifice	They are not apposed to each other, not prominent and at the lower end, the vaginal orifice may be seen.
Labia minora:	They are in contact and are covered by labia majora.	They are not in contact and are exposed and separated from labia majora.
Vestibule	Narrow	Wide
Hymen	Intact	Ruptured
Introitus	Hardly allowing a small finger to pass.	Admit 2 fingers and not painful
Vagina	It is narrow, the rugae more folded, and the vault more conical.	After repeated intercourse, it usually grows in length, and the rugae are less obvious.
Breast	Firm, elastic, non-pendulous	Large, flabby, elastic

  

Hymen

It is a thin fold of mucous membrane, about 1 mm thick, situated at placed the vaginal orifice.

 

Types of Hymen:

1. Semilunar or crescentic (Commonest type): The opening is placed anteriorly. Notches or clefts are seen at 10 and 11 'o'clock position

2. Annular: The opening is oval and situated near the center of the membrane.

3. Fimbriated

4. Imperforate: No opening

5. Microperforate: Tiny opening with the large posterior component.

6. Cribriform: Several openings.

7. Septate: Two lateral openings occur side by side, separated partially or completely by a thin strip of tissue.

8. Vertical: Opening is vertical.

9. Infantile: A small linear opening in the middle.

 

Causes of rupture of the hymen:

1. Sexual intercourse (99%)

2. Others:

1. Accidental retunes
2. Masturbation
3. Surgical operation
4. Foreign body
5. Ulceration
6. Sanitary tampon

 

What type of hymen may remain intact after intercourse?

1. Thick, tough, fleshy, elastic hymen

2. Fringe like hymen

3. Loose folded hymen

 

Atavism

The child does not resemble its parents but resembles its grandparents.

This is due to the inheritance of characteristics from remote instead of from immediate ancestors, due to the change recombination of genes.

 

Affiliation case

It is a civil suit brought by the mother of the illegitimate child against the alleged father for paying the maintenance costs of the bastard child.

 

Marriage

It is a legal contract between man and woman of appropriate age which implies physical union by coitus.

Divorce

Divorce means the dissolution of a previously valid marriage.

 

Nullity of marriage:

It may be defined as marriage declared never to have existed in law.

 

Reasons of Nullity of marriage:

1. When either party was under the age of marriage contract

2. When one party was of unsound mind at the time of marriage

3. When either party was validity marriage

4. When the marriage hasn't been finished due to impotence or willful refusal

5. When the woman was pregnant by another man at the time of marriage