Vagina dentata is it real

I am not the first to make such an observation, [2] and whilst I am not suggesting that there is any explanatory relationship to be found between the biological phenomena and the myths, it is certainly an intriguing association. Image courtesy: Shutterstock We’ve all heard of vaginas that are different in shape, size and colour.

But the question remains – beyond myth, beyond folklore, and beyond interpretation, does the toothed vagina have any basis in reality? Brain tissue and its derivatives, intestinal loops, thyroid tissue, eyes, salivary glands, may occasionally be found.

Whilst a Freudian analysis is undoubtedly culturally and historically specific, many vagina dentata legends explicitly articulate male fears of castration in the act of normal sexual intercourse, and warn of the necessity of removing the teeth from women’s vaginas, in order to transform her into a nonthreatening and marriageable sexual partner.

Despite the ominous name, however, ovarian teratomas are usually benign, and arise from totipotent stem cells which are capable of developing into any type of body cell. Dermoid cyst cystic teratoma with fully developed tooth and hair. According to the Waspishiana and Taruma Indians the first woman had a carnivorous fish inside her vagina.

They contain structures associated with epidermal tissues, such as hair, teeth, bone, sebaceous material resembling fat … The following is a partial list of tissues which have been found in dermoids: Skin and its derivatives, sebaceous glands, hair, sweat glands, and bone, especially the maxillae containing teeth.

But did you know about the mythical vagina dentata (that translates into toothed vagina)?

Does the Vagina Dentata

Although teratomas can develop in almost any part of the body — including the brain, neck, bladder, and the testes in men — being confronted with a toothy tumour in the female reproductive organs brought to mind mythic archetypes of the sexually devouring and deadly woman.

I was immediately struck by the parallels between this specimen and the image of the vagina dentata. The term “vagina dentata” was first coined around by misogynist psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud to describe the idea of “devouring or being devoured” manifesting as the equation of the.

One of the biggest surprises I encountered during my visit to the collections, was the revelation that the female reproductive anatomy can, and occasionally does, grow teeth. Pathology collections are a highly valuable medical teaching resource; particularly since these kinds of collections are now unlikely to be expanded in the wake of the Human Tissue Act.

As with many historical pathology collections, UCL possesses its share of medical anomalies or curiosities. It is believed that if men insert their fingers. Dermoid cysts are usually globular in shape and dull white in color. Well, the short answer is no.

There are myths galore when it comes to vagina dentata. The toothed vagina motif, so prominent in North American Indian mythology, is also found in the Chaco and the Guianas. While it’s faced controversy, the device is a clear example of the reclamation of the vagina dentata myth as a protective and defensive measure for victims of rape.

Vagina dentata Wikipedia

Another real-world example that might underlie the vagina dentata myth is that teeth can grow anywhere on your body out of a bizarre benign tumor. It is a fascinating, not to mention an educationally invaluable collection — not least because it contains many specimens that demonstrate gross clinical manifestations of diseases which are now very rare in the Western world.

Fragments of preserved skin belonging to a tattooed man certainly seem to fall into the category of the anatomically curious — there is certainly nothing pathological about this specimen. In preparation for our upcoming exhibition, Foreign Bodiesseveral members of the engagement team went to visit UCL Pathology Collections, to have a look at a collection of foreign objects removed from the human body.

This Pussy Bites Back

While the specifics of the stories may change, the underlying themes often reflect deep-seated anxieties about sexuality, gender roles, and the balance of power between men and women. Such a case was reported inwhen the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology mentioned a dermoid cyst containing teeth growing in the wall of a woman’s vagina.

One pathology text describes these tumours as follows:. Brains with ventricles, spinal cords and a few complete extremities, have been observed. Vagina dentata (Latin for 'toothed vagina ') is a folk tale tradition in which a vagina is said to contain teeth, with the associated implication that sexual intercourse might result in injury, emasculation, or castration.

Vagina dentata Busting the

Even rudimentary fetuses have been described, such as a pelvis with hairy pubes and a vulva and clitoris. Photograph by Charles Augustus Lloyd, c. Many 19th and 20th century European interpretations linked the motif to Freudian concepts of castration anxiety, in which young males are said to experience an unconscious fear of castration upon seeing female genitalia.

Some of these diseases, such as syphilis, are unfortunately making a comeback, so it seems more important than ever that medical students are able to recognise the clinical signs of these infections. The specimen shown here right is a dermoid cyst, or cystic teratoma, which has formed inside an ovary.

Is Vagina Dentata a

The UCL Pathology Collections comprise over 6, specimens dating back to aroundmany of which have been absorbed from other London medical institutions over the past 25 years, and these are currently in the process of being re-catalogued and conserved.

UCL Pathology Collections. Up to teeth have been found in one cyst … Long bones, digits, fingernails, and skull have been found. The vagina dentata myth is a rich and complex cultural motif that varies significantly across different societies.

The toothed vagina appears in the creation myths and folk stories of many cultures, from Native America, Russia and Japan amongst the Ainuto India, Samoa and New Zealand.