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Table of contents
- Understanding the clitoris
- Development of the clitoris
- Historical observations of the clitoris
- The size and shape of the clitoris
- Blood and nerve supply to the clitoris
- Sexual arousal and orgasm
- How women orgasm
- The clitoral erection
- The role of the cervix in sexual arousal
- Clitoris and Orgasm FAQ
- Related Posts
- References
Understanding the clitoris
The clitoris is connected to the labia minora (the inner labia) just above the urethral opening tucked into the vulva, with a large body of tissue actually inside the body, not just the glans, which is the bit you can see.
The clitoris is a sexual organ only and the most highly erogenous zone in women, capable of both sexual arousal and orgasm.1
The size and sensitivity of the clitoris vary by person, but all have deeper structures that wrap around the vagina. The clitoris is deeply involved in orgasm.
Development of the clitoris
While the embryo is developing, the genital tubercle turns into either a penis or a clitoris – it is the same cells that would make the glans and upper shaft of the penis if the foetus were a boy.2,3
This happens about 8 weeks after conception. After the 14th menstrual week (the way doctors determine how many weeks old a foetus is), the gender can usually be seen; an ultrasound can determine gender after about 17 weeks. This is when clitoromegaly can be seen, after higher-than-average exposure to testosterone.
Historical observations of the clitoris
The clitoral glans (the sticking-out bit) was at first determined to be a useless and non-functioning organ, but upon closer inspection, it was found that the nerves of the clitoris cup the clitoris (corpus).4
Cool video of someone drawing the internal clitoris
The size and shape of the clitoris
The tip (glans) of the clitoris is the size and shape of a pea, but this is just the average – it differs widely between women, and there is no ‘normal’ (within ‘normal’ boundaries). They are all different, the same way penises are all different while remaining of same structure.
The clitoral hood covers the end of the clitoral glans. There is a shaft that extends up to the pubic mound, where the clitoris reverses direction and branches, as if two legs sitting atop a horse.
These are the clitorial crura, and they form the corpora cavernosa. The labia minora (inner labia) hide the clitoral crura, which end as they attach to the pubic arch, or continue to the posterior fourchette – the bottom of the vaginal entrance.5 Where the clitoral crura end depends on who you talk to.
The clitoral glans protrudes (sometimes a lot, sometimes a little) from the body, but there is no way to tell by the way someone looks – height, weight, age, contraception, fertility – what their clitoris will look like.
Blood and nerve supply to the clitoris
There is a large network of blood vessels and nerves, plus ligaments, the urethral sponge, vestibular bulb, perineal sponge, and muscles involved in the actions of the clitoris.
There are some striking similarities with the male sexual organs, which allow us to accurately predict general behaviours, since the male sexual organs lie outside the body and can be examined more easily.
The corpus clitoridis has two separate chambers (corpora cavernosa), which is erectile tissue that swells with blood upon arousal, and a shaft that is attached to the glans clitoris. Each corpus is separated (but not entirely) from the others by a septum.
The clitoris has, at last count, over 8,000 sensory nerve endings, which is equivalent to (or more than the penis, and overwhelmingly beats any other part of the human body.
Sexual arousal and orgasm
When sexually aroused, the clitoris and other genital tissues swell with blood and change colour as a result of the blood influx.
Everyone will experience slightly different sensations; however, at orgasm, she will generally feel contractions. The female orgasm changes almost per occasion, with different areas of stimulation providing different types of orgasms.
How women orgasm
Research has found that most women (70-80 per cent) orgasm via direct clitoral stimulation, but any indirect stimulation may also work just as well.6 There is the somewhat mysterious vaginal orgasm, of which most women are found not to have, making the actual vagina not that important in terms of sexual satisfaction for women.
Without going into too much detail about the dispute regarding the existence of the G-spot, clitoral and vaginal orgasms, and so on, there are a million different ways to orgasm, and for our purposes, there is no real reason to get into a great discussion about it.
It must be noted that the female orgasm is still very mysterious in general to researchers, who, while busy doing studies, have taken a lot longer than the male equivalents, since the vagina has been put into a class of its own when it comes to being forbidden fruit, even for the medical community.7,8
A lot of this information is only just beyond educated guesses – sad in our times, but true. The female orgasm has been largely defined by how the vagina affects men’s orgasm, not for its own unique physiology.
There appears to be a direct relationship between the ‘legs’ of the clitoris, the clitoral bulbs, the corpora, and the urethra and vagina. It seems the mythical G-spot is the other side of the clitoris – if you pull the skin off the inside wall of the vagina, you will find the clitoral bulbs, which, in fact, is a mass of erectile tissue.
The clitoral erection
When sexually aroused, the clitoris engorges with blood.9 This includes all the clitoral structures inside, behind the scenes, and how this is precisely placed will differ with the woman it belongs to.
Some women will have more tissue than others, some will be more sensitive than others, some will need more or less stimulation to orgasm in their many different ways. This seems a reasonable reason why some women can orgasm by penetration, while others orgasm better from direct stimulation to the outer portion of the clitoris.
This also explains why scientific research hasn’t found any definitive proof that the G-spot even exists – it doesn’t exist, clearly, in all women.
This also means that trying to penetrate the vagina successfully (to orgasm) without engorging the clitoris is nearly useless in terms of sexual arousal. It just doesn’t work.
The role of the cervix in sexual arousal
The cervix is involved in sexual arousal, with very distinct sensations and brain regions lighting up during MRI scans mapping female sexual responses.10 Any woman who likes deep penetration will be aware of the cervix and its relationship to orgasm.
Clitoris and Orgasm FAQ
The clitoris is a highly specialised sexual organ situated at the top of the vulva, where the labia minora meet. The visible part is the clitoral glans, but most of the organ lies internally, with branches that wrap around the vaginal canal. It is designed solely for sexual pleasure and contains the highest concentration of sensory nerves in the human body.
No. The external glans is just the tip. The clitoris extends deep into the body with a shaft, paired crura (legs), erectile tissue, and bulbs that sit alongside the vagina. These internal structures play a major role in sexual arousal, swelling, and orgasm.
Early in foetal development, the genital tubercle can become either a clitoris or a penis. The clitoris forms from the same embryonic tissue that would form the glans and upper shaft of the penis. This shared origin explains many anatomical and functional similarities.
Yes. Clitoral size varies widely and is influenced by genetics, hormones and individual anatomy. Larger or smaller glans do not reflect sensitivity or sexual function, and there is no single ‘normal’ size. Internal structures also vary in length and shape.
The clitoris contains over 8,000 nerve endings, more than any other structure in the body. These nerves originate from the pudendal nerve and are supported by a rich network of blood vessels, erectile tissue and surrounding structures such as the vestibular bulbs and spongy tissues.
During arousal, the erectile tissues of the clitoris fill with blood, causing swelling, colour changes and increased sensitivity. This engorgement also affects the vestibular bulbs and the tissues surrounding the vagina and urethra, enhancing sexual sensation.
Most women orgasm through direct clitoral stimulation, with research suggesting around 70–80 per cent rely on clitoral contact. Indirect stimulation through penetrative sex, movement of the vaginal walls or pressure on internal clitoral structures can also result in orgasm.
The idea of separate “clitoral” and “vaginal” orgasms is somewhat misleading. The vagina itself has relatively few nerve endings, and pleasurable sensations during penetration usually come from the internal parts of the clitoris, which wrap around the vaginal canal. Many researchers consider the so-called G-spot to be the internal clitoral network.
There is no consensus that a single discrete G-spot exists. Instead, the area often described as the G-spot corresponds to internal clitoral bulbs and erectile tissue located behind the anterior vaginal wall. Whether someone experiences strong sensation there varies greatly from person to person.
Penetration stimulates different parts of the internal clitoral network depending on anatomy, arousal level and the degree of clitoral engorgement. Some women’s internal structures respond strongly to penetration, while others require direct stimulation of the external glans. Both patterns are completely normal.
The cervix can contribute to sexual sensation and orgasm for some women. MRI studies show distinct brain activation patterns during deep penetration and cervical stimulation. Some people find cervical contact pleasurable; for others, it may feel uncomfortable or painful.
The female orgasm has historically been understudied due to cultural taboos and scientific bias. Much of what we know is relatively recent, and many aspects of female sexual response are still being clarified. Research now recognises the complexity of clitoral anatomy and its central role in orgasm.
Related Posts
References
- 1.Pauls RN. Anatomy of the clitoris and the female sexual response. Clinical Anatomy. Published online March 2, 2015:376-384. doi:10.1002/ca.22524
- 2.Baskin L, Shen J, Sinclair A, et al. Development of the human penis and clitoris. Differentiation. Published online September 2018:74-85. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2018.08.001
- 3.van der Putte SCJ, Sie‐Go DMDS. Development and Structure of the Glandopreputial Sulcus of the Human Clitoris With a Special Reference to Glandopreputial Glands. The Anatomical Record. Published online November 2, 2010:156-164. doi:10.1002/ar.21279
- 4.Jackson LA, Hare AM, Carrick KS, Ramirez DMO, Hamner JJ, Corton MM. Anatomy, histology, and nerve density of clitoris and associated structures: clinical applications to vulvar surgery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Published online November 2019:519.e1-519.e9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.06.048
- 5.Longhurst GJ, Beni R, Jeong SR, et al. Beyond the tip of the iceberg: A meta‐analysis of the anatomy of the clitoris. Clinical Anatomy. Published online September 29, 2023:233-252. doi:10.1002/ca.24113
- 6.Puppo V, Puppo G. Anatomy of sex: Revision of the new anatomical terms used for the clitoris and the female orgasm by sexologists. Clinical Anatomy. Published online October 6, 2014:293-304. doi:10.1002/ca.22471
- 7.Mazloomdoost D, Pauls RN. A Comprehensive Review of the Clitoris and Its Role in Female Sexual Function. Sexual Medicine Reviews. Published online October 2015:245-263. doi:10.1002/smrj.61
- 8.Wallen K, Lloyd EA. Female sexual arousal: Genital anatomy and orgasm in intercourse. Hormones and Behavior. Published online May 2011:780-792. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.12.004
- 9.Park K, Kim NN. Anatomy and Physiology of Arousal. Textbook of Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction. Published online April 17, 2018:107-125. doi:10.1002/9781119266136.ch8
- 10.Komisaruk BR, Wise N, Frangos E, Liu W, Allen K, Brody S. Women’s Clitoris, Vagina, and Cervix Mapped on the Sensory Cortex: fMRI Evidence. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Published online October 1, 2011:2822-2830. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02388.x
