"Clit" redirects here. For other uses, see Clit (disambiguation).
Clitoris
Human clitoris. Pubic hair has been deliberately removed to show anatomical detail. Location of (1) clitoral hood and (2) clitoral glans (the clitoral body is beneath the hood).
Details
Precursor
Genital tubercle
Part of
Vulva
Artery
Dorsal artery of clitoris, deep artery of clitoris, artery of bulb, internal pudendal artery
Vein
Superficial dorsal veins of clitoris, deep dorsal vein of clitoris, vein of bulb, internal pudendal veins
Nerve
Dorsal nerve of clitoris, pudendal nerve
Identifiers
Latin
clitoris
MeSH
D002987
TA98
A09.2.02.001
TA2
3565
FMA
9909
Anatomical terminology
[edit on Wikidata]
In amniotes, the clitoris (/ˈklɪtərɪs/ⓘKLIT-ər-iss or /klɪˈtɔːrɪs/ⓘklih-TOR-iss; pl.: clitorises or clitorides) is a female sex organ.[1] In humans, it is the vulva's most erogenous area and generally the primary anatomical source of female sexual pleasure.[2] The clitoris is a complex structure, and its size and sensitivity can vary. The visible portion, the glans, of the clitoris is typically roughly the size and shape of a pea and is estimated to have at least 8,000 nerve endings.[3][4]
Sexological, medical, and psychological debate has focused on the clitoris,[5] and it has been subject to social constructionist analyses and studies.[6] Such discussions range from anatomical accuracy, gender inequality, female genital mutilation, and orgasmic factors and their physiological explanation for the G-spot.[7] The only known purpose of the human clitoris is to provide sexual pleasure.[8]
Knowledge of the clitoris is significantly affected by its cultural perceptions. Studies suggest that knowledge of its existence and anatomy is scant in comparison with that of other sexual organs (especially male sex organs)[9] and that more education about it could help alleviate stigmas, such as the idea that the clitoris and vulva in general are visually unappealing or that female masturbation is taboo and disgraceful.[10][11][12]
The clitoris is homologous to the penis in males.[13]
^Cite error: The named reference Goodman_Roughgarden_Wingfield was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Rodgers_O'Connell_Greenberg_Weiten_Carroll was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Carroll_Di Marino was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^
White, Franny (27 October 2022). "Pleasure-producing human clitoris has more than 10,000 nerve fibers". News. Oregon Health & Science University. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022. Blair Peters, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine and a plastic surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming care as part of the OHSU Transgender Health Program, led the research and presented the findings. Peters obtained clitoral nerve tissue from seven adult transmasculine volunteers who underwent gender-affirming genital surgery. Tissues were dyed and magnified 1,000 times under a microscope so individual nerve fibers could be counted with the help of image analysis software.
Peters, B; Uloko, M; Isabey, P; How many Nerve Fibers Innervate the Human Clitoris? A Histomorphometric Evaluation of the Dorsal Nerve of the Clitoris Archived 2 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine 2 p.m. ET 27 October 2022, 23rd annual joint scientific meeting of Sexual Medicine Society of North America and International Society for Sexual Medicine
^Cite error: The named reference Moore_Blechner_Shrage was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Moore_Wade_Labuski was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Shrage_Schwartz_Wood_Blechner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Rodgers_O'Connell_Kilchevsky was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Balcombe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Ogletree_Wade_Waskul was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference The Wall Street Journal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Moye was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Tortora, Gerard J; Anagnostakos, Nicholas P (1987). Principles of anatomy and physiology (5th ed.). New York: Harper & Row. pp. 727–728. ISBN 978-0060466695.
In amniotes, the clitoris (/ˈklɪtərɪs/ KLIT-ər-iss or /klɪˈtɔːrɪs/ klih-TOR-iss; pl.: clitorises or clitorides) is a female sex organ. In humans, it is...
A clitoris piercing is a genital piercing placed directly through the head (glans) of the clitoris itself. It is a relatively uncommon piercing by choice...
tumescence or female erection) is a physiological phenomenon where the clitoris becomes enlarged and firm. Clitoral erection is the result of a complex...
removal of the clitoris. It is rarely used as a therapeutic medical procedure, such as when cancer has developed in or spread to the clitoris. Commonly, non-medical...
body modification that have the potential to increase the size of the clitoris and enhance sexual pleasure. Clitoral enlargement can be accomplished through...
The clitoris (/ˈklɪtərɪs/ or /klɪˈtɔːrɪs/ ; pl.: clitorises or clitorides) is a female sex organ present in mammals, ostriches and other amniotes. Although...
become engorged with blood, as does all of the erectile tissue of the clitoris. The clitoral crura are each covered by an ischiocavernosus muscle. Crus...
foreskin) is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the glans of the clitoris; it also covers the external clitoral shaft, develops as part of the labia...
Clitoromegaly (or macroclitoris) is an abnormal enlargement of the clitoris that is mostly congenital; it is otherwise acquired through deliberately induced...
The corpus cavernosum of clitoris is one of a pair of sponge-like regions of erectile tissue of the clitoris. It is made of a sponge-like tissue that...
The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is a nerve in females that branches off the pudendal nerve to innervate the clitoris. The nerve is important for female...
dividing into two portions surrounding the clitoris. The upper part of each lip passes above the clitoris to meet the upper part of the other lip—which...
of the penis in males (typically accompanied by ejaculation) and of the clitoris in females. Sexual stimulation can be by self-practice (masturbation) or...
The human vulva includes the mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vulval vestibule, urinary meatus, vaginal opening, hymen, and Bartholin's...
clitoris is a fibrous band at the deep fascial level that extends from the pubic symphysis to the deep fascia of the clitoris, anchoring the clitoris...
stimulation of the clitoris; so some women may require digital stimulation to achieve orgasm. Some men may, however, be able to stimulate the clitoris simultaneously...
replacement therapy gradually enlarges the clitoris to a mean maximum size of 4.6 cm (1.8 in) (as the clitoris and the penis are developmentally homologous)...
portrayed as a tyrannical American regional warlord, cursed by God to have a clitoris for a nose—a parable cautioning against female genital mutilation. Since...
is a female genital piercing through the clitoral hood surrounding the clitoris. In addition to being an adornment, a clitoral hood piercing can enhance...
to externally stimulate the clitoris for sexual pleasure and orgasm. They are sex toys created for massaging the clitoris, and are not penetrating sex...
models include a protruding clitoral stimulator, designed to tickle the clitoris, vulva, or anus during sex (and during masturbation while the ring is used...
male and female mammalian genitalia. In females, it collects around the clitoris and in the folds of the labia minora; in males, smegma collects under the...
of penetration and because of its ability to adequately stimulate the clitoris. There are other positions in which the woman may be on top, including...
and to the clitoris in females, which travels through the branches of both the dorsal nerve of the penis and the dorsal nerve of the clitoris.: 422 The...
other body parts (excluding the mouth), especially for stimulation of the clitoris. A variety of sex positions are practiced, including the missionary position...
called the anterior commissure, which is below the mons pubis and above the clitoris. To the posterior, the labia majora join at the posterior commissure, which...
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