Mons pubis explained

Mons pubis
Latin:mons pubis
Width:280px
Precursor:Genital tubercle

In human anatomy, and in mammals in general, the mons pubis or pubic mound (also known simply as the mons, and known specifically in females as the mons Venus or mons veneris) is a rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symphysis of the pubic bones.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Structure

For females, the mons pubis forms the anterior portion of the vulva. It divides into the labia majora (literally "larger lips"), on either side of the furrow known as the pudendal cleft, that surrounds the labia minora, clitoris, urinary meatus, vaginal opening, and vulval vestibule.Although present in both men and women, the mons pubis tends to be larger in women. Its fatty tissue is sensitive to estrogen, causing a distinct mound to form with the onset of female puberty.[7] [8] This pushes the forward portion of the labia majora out and away from the pubic bone. The mound also becomes covered with pubic hair. It often becomes less prominent with the decrease in bodily estrogen experienced during menopause.[9]

Etymology

The term mons pubis is derived from Latin for "pubic mound". The more specifically female mons Venus or mons veneris is derived from Latin for "mound of Venus".

Society and culture

Although not part of external genitalia itself, the pubic mound can be regarded as an erogenous zone and is highly eroticized in many cultures. Throughout history, the complete or partial removal of pubic hair has been common in many societies, and more recently it has become widespread in the Western world. The removal of all pubic hair has become common practice in the past decade primarily due to societal pressures and personal preferences. There are several popular removal methods including shaving and waxing, such as a Brazilian wax.[10] [11] [12]

In some circumstances, the mons veneris is subjected to aesthetic ideals beyond hair removal. Correspondingly, plastic surgery is offered, which alters the shape of the mons to a desired ideal.[13] Desired ideals may be influenced by personal preferences, current cultural norms, or societal pressures.

Permanent forms of decoration to enhance the aesthetic appeal of this area are hanabira (the application of cosmetic scars)[14] or piercings such as the Christina piercing or the Nefertiti piercing.[15] Vajazzling refers to the non-permanent decoration of the mons pubis with crystal ornaments.[16] [17] Traditional ink tattoos are also common in this area as well as temporary henna designs or mehndi.

Although it is usually illegal to expose the mons pubis in public, there are some garments that expose it. For example, in 1985, four weeks before his death, Rudi Gernreich unveiled the pubikini, a topless bathing suit that exposed the wearer's mons pubis and pubic hair.[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] It was a thin, V-shaped, thong-style bottom[23] that in the front featured a tiny strip of fabric.[21] [22] The pubikini was described as a pièce de résistance totally freeing the human body.[24]

Bibliography

Anatomy of the Human Body. Lea & Febiger, 1918

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: New Oxford American Dictionary . 2011 . Oxford University Press . The rounded mass of fatty tissue lying over the joint of the pubic bones, in women typically more prominent and also called the mons veneris..
  2. Book: Gould . A.M. . M.D . George Milbry . An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences . 1894 . P. Blakiston, Son & Company . Philadelphia . 778–779 . 2014-10-08 . Mons pubis: the eminence in front of the body and horizontal ramus of the os pubis; it is called also, in the female, mons veneris..
  3. Web site: mons pubis . Merriam–Webster . 2013-09-18 . A rounded eminence of fatty tissue on the pubic symphysis especially of the human female..
  4. Web site: mons pubis . American Heritage Dictionary . 2013-09-19 . 2011 . A rounded fleshy protuberance situated over the pubic bones that becomes covered with hair during puberty..
  5. Book: Zink . Christoph . Dictionary of Obstetrics and Gynecology . 1988 . Walter de Gruyter & Co. . Berlin . 3110857278 . 201 . 2014-10-08 . Pubic mount: mons pubis, in females mons veneris; the hairy region above the anterior commissure of the large labia or penis..
  6. Book: Basavanthappa . B.T. . Textbook of Midwifery and Reproductive Health Nursing . 2006 . Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers . New Delhi . 8180617998 . 23, 42, 791 . 1st . 2014-10-08 . [Female] mons pubis (mons veneris), labia majora and minora, clitoris, prepuce of clitoris, vestibule, fourchette, and perineum… [Male] mons pubis, penis, and scrotum… Hair-covered fat pad overlying the symphysis pubis..
  7. Book: Gray. Henry. Lewis. Warren H.. Anatomy of the Human Body. . 1918 . Lea & Febiger . Philadelphia . 1-58734-102-6 . 20th .
  8. Book: Myers, J.D.. John E.B.. The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. 2011. SAGE Publications. Thousand Oaks, California. 978-1412966818. 3rd. 2014-10-08.
  9. Web site: Braun. Kirsten. Ageing down under. Women's Health, Queensland Wide. 2014-10-08. 2007-09-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20141015151708/http://www.womhealth.org.au/conditions-and-treatments/194-ageing-down-under. 2014-10-15. dead.
  10. Stone, N., Graham, C.A., & Baysal, I. (2017). "Women's Engagement in Pubic Hair Removal: Motivations and Associated Factors". International Journal of Sexual Health, 29(1), 89–96.
  11. Lidola, M. (2014). "Negotiating integration in Berlin's waxing studios: Brazilian migrants' gendered appropriation of urban consumer spaces and 'ethnic' entrepreneurship". Journal of Contemporary History, 49(1), 228–251.
  12. Herbenick, D., Schick, V., Reece, M., Sanders, S., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2010). "Pubic hair removal among women in the United States: Prevalence, methods, and characteristics". The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7(10), 3322–3330.
  13. Triana, L. & Robledo, A. M. (2015). "Aesthetic surgery of female external genitalia". Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 35(2), 165–177.
  14. https://www.stylight.de/Magazine/Lifestyle/Scarification/ "Schnittiger Trend? Scarification statt Tattoo"
  15. Van der Meer, G. T., Schultz, W.W., & Nijman, J.M. (2008). "Intimate body piercings in women". Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 29(4), 235–239.
  16. Turney, J. (2016). "Vajazzled!!! Pursuits for the hirsute." Clothing Cultures, 3(2), 143–153.
  17. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a12483619/vajazzling-video/ "7 Things You Didn't Know About Vajazzling"
  18. Portraits: Photographs from Europe and America (2004) Klaus Honnef, Helmut Newton and Carol Squiers. page 21, Schirmer,
  19. Cathy Horn, "Rudi Revisited", The Washington Post, November 17, 1991, page 3
  20. Elizabeth Gunther Stewart, Paula Spencer & Dawn Danby, The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health (2002), page 104, Bantam Books,
  21. Web site: overzero.com . Bald is Beautiful . Metroland. 2012-11-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120729120714/http://metroland.net/guides/2007_sum_guide/sum_waxing.html . 2012-07-29 .
  22. Elizabeth Gunther Stewart, Paula Spencer and Dawn Danby, The V Book, page 104, Bantam Books, 2002,
  23. Book: Recent acquisitions: A Selection, 1985-1986 . Ellen Shultz. 1986. Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York. 978-0870994784. 48.
  24. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB1DA884A3D966C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Catalog adds options for overweight girls

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