Atlas of visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid for screening, triage, and assessment for treatment / Activity 1

A provider of VIA (either as a primary screening test or as a test to triage HPV-positive women) or a provider who determines treatment eligibility for HPV-positive women should have a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the female genital tract. This is essential to perform the test competently and to understand the underlying principles of the procedures. The female genital tract comprises:

• External genital organs (external genitalia), which are visible from the outside, and
• Internal genital organs (internal genitalia), which lie within the pelvic cavity.

The next section discusses the detailed anatomy of the external female genital organs.