The labia are part of the female genitalia ; they are the major externally visible portions of the vulva. In humans, there are two pairs of labia: the labia majora or the outer labia are larger and fattier, while the labia minora are folds of skin between the outer labia. The labia surround and protect the clitoris and the openings of the vagina and the urethra. Labium plural labia is a Latin -derived term meaning " lip ". Labium and its derivatives including labial, labrum are used to describe any lip-like structure, but in the English language, labium often specifically refers to parts of the vulva. The labia majora , also commonly called outer labia or outer lips, are lip-like structures consisting mostly of skin and adipose fatty tissue, which extend on either side of the vulva to form the pudendal cleft through the middle.