Difference Between Frenulum and Fourchette

The key difference between frenulum and fourchette is that frenulum is a small fold of tissue that helps to anchor a semi-mobile body part while fourchette is a fork-shaped structure where the labia minora meet above the perineum.

Frenulum is a small fold of tissue that anchors a mobile organ in the body. There are several frenula in the human body. The vulva is the outer part of the female reproductive system. Frenulum of the vulva is known as the fourchette. Fourchette is a fork-shaped small fold where the labia minora meet.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Frenulum 
3. What is Fourchette
4. Similarities Between Frenulum and Fourchette
5. Side by Side Comparison – Frenulum vs Fourchette in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Frenulum?

Frenulum is a small ridge or fold of tissue that helps to attach a semi-mobile organ in the body. There are several frenula in the human body. They are mainly found on the penis, under the tongue, inside the lips, as part of the female genitalia, and internally in the brain and digestive tract. Two external frenula are found in the mouth and on the genitalia. Both are important structures when discussing oral health, or reproductive health and sexual advice. There are three frenula in the mouth; one is under the tongue while the other two are inside the upper lip and inside the lower lip. In the male penis, the frenulum is an elastic band of tissue under the glans penis that connects to the prepuce. In females, the frenulum is also known as the fourchette, and it is a fork-shaped structure where the labia minora meet above the perineum.

Internal frenula such as those found in the gut and brain are rarely discussed. Their existence is monitored only when they are injured. Unusually strong and thick frenula are surgically cut in order to make them correct. Ankyloglossia is a disorder that is characterized by an abnormally short lingual frenulum. Due to it, the tip of the tongue cannot be protruded beyond the lower incisor teeth.

What is Fourchette?

Fourchette is a fork-shaped fold of skin where the labia minora meet above the perineum. Fourchette is at the bottom of the inner folds of the vulva. Perineum is located just below the fourchette. Fourchette is also called genital frenulum.  It is an external genital organ belonging to the external genitalia.

Fourchette can be torn during delivery. Doctors put a deliberate cut in the perineum starting from the fourchette and continuing back along the perineum toward the anus in order to prevent tearing. Moreover, fourchette may be torn in acts of violence.

What are the Similarities Between Frenulum and Fourchette?

• Both frenulum and fourchette are folds of skin.
• Fourchette is a frenulum where the labia minora meet posteriorly.

What is the Difference Between Frenulum and Fourchette?

Frenulum is a small fold of tissue that secures the motion of a semi-mobile body part while fourchette is a fork-shaped frenulum of the vulva where the labia minora meet. So, this is the key difference between frenulum and fourchette. Frenula are seen at several locations of the human body, including the mouth, gut, brain, genitalia, etc. while fourchette is found in the external genitalia of females just above the perineum.

Below infographic summarizes the difference between frenulum and fourchette.

Summary – Frenulum vs Fourchette

Frenulum is a small fold of tissue that helps to anchor a semi-mobile part of the body. There are several frenulums in the human body. Frenulum in the external genitalia of females is known as fourchette. Fourchette is a fork-like structure which is located just above the perineum. At the fourchette, the labia minora meet. Thus, this summarizes the difference between frenulum and fourchette.

Reference:

1. “Frenulum.” Biology Dictionary, 24 June 2017, Available here.
2. “Anatomy of the Vulva.” Anatomy of the Vulva – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

By Henry Vandyke Carter – Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Gray1229” By Henry Vandyke Carter – Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia