Types Of Clitoris

Types Of Clitoris

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Author:
Rafael Vieira MD
•

Reviewer:
Jana Vasković MD

Last reviewed: July 06, 2022

Reading time: 8 minutes

The clitoris is an erectile tissue of the females, located at the junction of the inner lips of vulva and immediately above the external opening of the urethra . The clitoris is responsible for feeling sexual sensations upon stimulation, and in many women, its proper stimulation facilitates orgasm.
This article will discuss the anatomy of the clitoris, a female sex organ and most sensitive erogenous zone. Cultural perceptions of the clitoris have had significant impact on the research and knowledge about the clitoris in comparison with the penis, its male counterpart. Through this article, we will guide you through the ins and outs of the clitoris, namely its internal and external anatomy, blood supply, innervation, and function during sexual arousal.
The clitoris is an erectile structure, homologous to the male penis . It is located inferior to the mons pubis at the anterior end of the vulva where the two labia minora meet. Similar to the penis, it is composed of paired crura, a body and a glans.
Unlike its male counterpart however, the clitoris is not circumscribed by a foreskin nor is it perforated by the urethra (and, therefore, has no urinary role). Instead, urethra opens separately, just posteriorly to the clitoris. In addition, most (i.e. four-fifths) of the clitoris is internal; only its glans (measuring an average length of 5 to 8 mm) is externally positioned. This is why the clitoris is informally described as having two parts: the internal and external.
The clitoris arises as a pair of crura , two erectile structures which attach to the ischiopubic rami. Anteriorly, each crus converges to form the paired corpora cavernosa of the clitoris, which are collectively known as its body and are enclosed in a layer of dense fibrous connective tissue (known as the tunica albuginea). In females, the corpus spongiosum is represented as two bodies of erectile tissue in each of the labia minora, referred to as the bulbs of the vestibule or clitoral bulbs.
The clitoris is supported by the suspensory ligament of the clitoris, a fibrous band that connects the clitoris to the pubic symphysis .
At its distal extremity, the body, which is formed by the junction of both corpora cavernosa, is surmounted by the glans (head) of the clitoris, which is a small tubercle of erectile tissue that arises from the junction of the vestibular bulbs (mentioned below).
Externally, the glans is enclosed between the prepuce of the clitoris anteriorly and frenulum of the clitoris posteriorly, which are folds formed by the division of the anterior extremities of the labia minora.
The neurovascular bundle of the clitoris is located posterior to the corpora cavernosa, between the tunica albuginea and the clitoral fascia . Two dorsal arteries (branch of the internal pudendal artery ) supply blood to the fascia and skin over the clitoris. They each give off a branch known as the deep artery of clitoris , which supplies blood to the ipsilateral corpus cavernosum, engorging it during sexual arousal.
Paired dorsal veins of the clitoris are located centrally, medial to their arterial counterpart, and deep to an unpaired superficial vein of the clitoris . Finally, the most lateral structures of the neurovascular bundle are the dorsal nerves of the clitoris.
The dorsal nerve of clitoris is a terminal branch of the pudendal nerve , which travels along the dorsal surface of the clitoral body to the glans. Here, it terminates as a network of highly sensitive free nerve endings and other mechanoreceptors making it one of the densely innervated regions of the body. Like the arteries and the veins, it lies superficially located between the tunica albuginea and the clitoral fascia, and therefore some procedures (e.g. vulvoplasty) may risk injury to this nerve and affect clitoral sensation and sexual function.
During sexual arousal , the clitoris, along with the entire female genitalia, fills with blood. This is due to the ischiocavernosus and bulbocavernosus muscles contracting and compressing the clitoral veins while the arterial blood flow remains; this increased blood then fills the venous spaces in the corpora cavernosa of the clitoris, leading to its ingurgitation. As the clitoris is richly innervated by sensory fibers, stimulation of the clitoris (either direct physical stimulation or mental simulation) may lead to female orgasm .
The G-spot is an erogenous area of the vagina which may lead to strong sexual arousal and orgasms when physically stimulated. It is said to be located 5–8 cm (2–3 in) up in the anterior vaginal wall. However, its existence is subject of discussion and has not been proved.
Some researchers have found a greater concentration of nerve endings at the lower third of the vagina. However, evidence on this has been based on small sample sizes and therefore is often dismissed as anedoctal.
A stronger theory supports that the G-spot may be an extension of the clitoris, as the clitoral tissue extends into the anterior wall of the vagina. This is supported by the fact that vaginal orgasms (obtained through stimulation of the G-spot) and clitoral orgasms have the same stages of physical response.
Regardless of whether the G-spot is an individual structure or a simple extension of the clitoris, overly focusing on the G-spot as a source for sexual arousal and orgasm may be detrimental, and it is generally best to consider the clitoris, urethra, and vagina as one unit because they are intimately related.

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An organ of the external genitalia of females whose function is to enable sexual pleasure.
Two crura of clitoris, each forming a corpus cavernosum, which converge to form the glans of the clitoris
Dorsal artery of clitoris, deep artery of clitoris Deep dorsal vein of clitoris, superficial dorsal vein of clitoris

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It’s mysterious, it’s big, and it’s the most vital part of your sexual anatomy.
Just in case no one has told you yet, there’s something you should know about your clitoris: It’s not just a tiny little spot above your vagina but a wishbone-shaped structure that extends anywhere from 7 to 13 centimeters into your body. And the whole thing plays a key role in your sex life. About 73 percent of women say stimulating the clitoris either enhances or is totally necessary for their orgasms, according to a study from Indiana University, the Kinsey Institute, and OMGYes, an online site for orgasm education.
For such a little thing, the clitoris has a ton of power. But because the vast majority of it is hidden away inside your bod, it gets unfairly overlooked! In the interest of increasing worldwide cliteracy, here’s a quick primer on everything you should know about your most vital sex organ.
There haven’t been nearly as many studies on the size of the clitoris as the size of the average penis (big surprise there), but at 17 centimeters long, the clitoris is the same size as the average erect penis at about 5.1 inches. So, maybe it’s high time we add Big Clitoris Energy to the narrative.
While you have no real way of easily knowing the size of your own clitoris, since it’s mostly inside you, it doesn’t really matter anyway. A bigger clitoris doesn’t necessarily mean a more sensitive, more easily aroused clitoris.
If you can’t tell by now, the clitoris and penis have a lot in common. When it’s stimulated (either directly through touch, less directly through penetration, or with a special combo of both), the erectile tissue on the interior clitoris swells—just like a D becomes erect.
In 1998, an Australian urologist named Helen O’Connell published findings that showed both the external and internal structure of the clitoris, according to the Huffington Post . It’s shaped kind of like a wishbone. And she didn’t stop there—in 2005, O’Connell published more findings showing that the clitoris extends behind the vaginal wall.
Most people think of clitoral stimulation as something that only happens on the outside of the body, on the little rosebud that sits near your vagina. But because of its shape and structure, the clitoris can also appreciate indirect stimulation from penetration, which is why some people swear by vaginal orgasms, according to Jenny Block , author of The Ultimate Guide to Solo Sex .
In 2009, a team of researchers published a study that showed how the vagina flexes and changes during penetration. What they found was that the vagina moves in a way that allows for the penis to hit the internal parts of the clitoris. More research is still needed, but *THE MORE YOU KNOW*.
There are so many toys and doodads for getting the clitoris aroused for a reason. Some toys, like the Satisfyer , use fancy pressure waves directly on the clitoris, while others, like the Crave Vesper , just use straight-up vibration to stimulate.

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The Clitoral Bulbs The complete clitoris is about 9-11 cm long and is made up of the ‘head’ (pink), body (purple), legs (light blue) and bulbs (dark blue), and has a kind of ‘erection’ when its aroused. The glans or ‘head’ of the clitoris is made of densely packed nerves and is external , which is what you can see and touch in the vulva. The body, legs and bulbs of the Clitoris are internal and are made up of Erectile tissue. The clitoral bulbs that sit either side of the vagina and urethra, as you can see below are responsible for a lot of pleasure, they are usually stroked or stimulated through the inside of the bottom of the vagina. This is one of the reasons why penetration can feel good as the clitoral bulbs are made of erectile tissue and on arousal they engorge, becoming bigger and more sensitive, allowing for pleasure. Recap: Erectile tissue : a type of tissue that, when blood flows into it, it doesn’t flow out, but instead holds on to the blood, causing the area to swell up. When you start to feel turned on or excited, blood flow in the genitals increases and the clitoris in particular swells and has a kind of ‘erection’ that is similar to the penis. Click ‘play’ and explore the 3D model below...

A study of 1,055 women ages 18-94 found that:
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Types Of Clitoris

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