Let’s Get to Know It: Your Guide to the Clitoris
The clitoris. Do you know where it is? Do you even know what it is?
Notice: This blog does include imagery of actual anatomy.
Why Does The Clitoris Matter?
When most people think of the clitoris, they think of the small button-like structure located near the top of the vulva. This is apparent with its many nicknames such as bean, button, kernel, and lovebud. However, similar to an iceberg, this small portion of the clitoris is just the tip with the other structures hidden underneath.
The clitoris is a complex structure that is often underrepresented in general sex education and medical textbooks. This misrepresentation leads to a lot of people having shame towards their body and wondering if theirs is normal. With this guide, I hope to limit the misconception around the clitoris and get YOU more familiar with your (or someone else’s) body.
In addition, knowing what and where the clitoris is can ultimately lead to better sex. According to a 2018 study, only around 13.5% of women can orgasm consistently from penetration alone, with many other either needing or preferring clitoral stimulation in order to orgasm. There has been some support to show that even some of these penetration alone orgasms may be due to stimulating the internal structures of the clitoris, so knowing this misunderstood structure is essential!
Where is it located?
The clitoris is located within the urogenital triangle (see figure 1). This space makes up a portion of the perineum and includes the external structures of the vulva, such as the pubic mons (mons pubis) and the labia majora and minora.
Figure 1. Structure of the Urogenital Triangle ; Plate 408 from Gray’s Anatomy (1918), illustrated by Henry Vandyke Carter, edited by Craig Hacking.
External Anatomy
The external anatomy of the clitoris is made up of three major parts: the clitoral hood (aka the prepuce), the clitoral glans, and the frenulum.
The clitoral hood is made up of skin formed by the labia minora, and it is the part of the clitoral complex that covers the clitoral glans. Its primary function is to protect the sensitive glans from friction.
The clitoral glans is the highly sensitive “nub” of the clitoris. This is positioned directly under the clitoral hood and is arguably the most sensitive part of the clitoral complex with more than 10,000 nerve endings, this is more than double of that found in the tip of the penis. The function of the clitoral glans has been hypothesized to be mainly for sexual pleasure.
The frenulum is the skin that separates the clitoral hood from the labia minora. This part of the clitoral complex sits directly behind the glans, and its function is to hold the clitoral glans in place.
Figure 2. External Anatomy of Clitoris; 1. Clitoral Hood (Prepuce), 2. Clitoral Glans, 3. Frenulum; Photograph by Naumann78
Internal Anatomy
The clitoris is a multi-faceted, wishbone-like structure. The two major parts that make up the internal anatomy are the clitoral body and the clitoral root. These structures comprise most of the erectile tissue found in the clitoris.
The clitoral body, also known as the shaft or corpora, sits directly behind the clitoral glans and is made up of erectile tissue known as corpora cavernosa. The shaft’s primary function is to hold blood during clitoral erection.
The root consists of two major structures of the clitoral complex: the crura and the clitoral bulbs. The crura (singular crus) contain the two “legs” that extend from the clitoral body. This structure forms the “V” of the wishbone and largely comprises of corpora cavernosa tissue. These legs surround the vaginal canal and the urethra.
The clitoral bulbs consist primarily of corpus spongiosum tissue and are located next to the crura. This is the main structure that swells and is hypothesized to assist in producing vaginal lubricant and ensuring vaginal rigidity during arousal. This structure is also known as the vestibular bulbs; however, its association with the vulvar vestibule is inconsistent lending, to its new name.
Figure 3. Internal Anatomy of Clitoris, Illustration by Autisticeditor 20
What happens during arousal?
Similar to the penis, during arousal the clitoris swells. This has been thought to be due to blood flow; however, research is still in its infancy. This swelling is aided by the erectile tissue that covers the root of the clitoris. During erection, the clitoris can on average double in size, going from around 3 – 4 cm to 7 cm when erect.
Figure 3. Erection of clitoral complex. Left image: mild arousal. Right image: strong arousal. Photograph by Youm5678
Size of the Clitoris
Clitoral sizes vary widely, so in a sense, there is no normal. This may not be that satisfying of an answer to some; however, current medical textbooks do not even show the wide range of sizes of the clitoral complex. According to a 2022 review, only two medical textbooks provide measurements for the clitoral glans and body, which are smaller than those found in the review. According to the review, the average combined length of the body and glans was 32.05 mm (1.26 in), with a wide range, with some being as small as 6.00 mm (0.24 in) to as large as 80.00 mm (3.15 in).
A summary of sizes and their ranges from the study are provided below. I want to preface that what is normal is highly subjective and largely misunderstood. With this, I assure you that your genitalia are normal, but if there are concerns, please speak with a medical professional.
Size of External Structures
The clitoral glans has an average size of 6.40 mm (0.25 in), with a range of 1.00 mm to 21.00 mm. Their average width is 5.14 mm (0.20 in), with a range of 2.00 mm to 32.00 mm.
The length of the clitoral hood is 23.19 mm (0.91 in) with a range of 5.00 mm to 40.00 mm.
Size of Internal Structures
The body’s length is 25.46 mm (1.00 in), with a range of 5.00 mm to 59.00 mm. Its width is 9.00 mm (0.35 in), with a range of 5.00 mm to 20.00 mm.
The length of the crura is 52.41 mm (2.06 in) with a range of 23.00 mm to 90.00 mm. The width of the crura is 8.71 mm (0.34 in) with a range of 2.00 mm to 13.00 mm.
The length of the clitoral bulb is 52.00 mm (2.05 in) with a range of 13.00 mm to 70.00 mm. The width of the clitoral bulb is 10.33 mm (0.41 in) with a range of 3.00 mm to 29.00 mm.
Now It’s Your Turn
Now that you have an idea of what the clitoris looks like, you (or your partner) can get some practice identifying structures on your own. You can browse websites that teach you anatomy on your own, such as Planned Parenthood, or art projects such as Cliteracy by Sophia Wallace. You can also try one of the fun exercises below.
Exercise #1 – Play Can You Find It.
Grab a mirror and lie on your back. See if you can identify your external structures, such as the clitoral glans, clitoral hood, and frenulum. If you do not have a clitoris, try finding these structures on your partner (or friend). Make sure to ask for consent beforehand. You can add even more stakes by timing it. Who can identify the clitoral structures faster, you or your partner?
Exercise #2 – Size Doesn’t Matter But…
Men should not be the only ones to have fun measuring their genitalia; now you can too. Grab a measuring tape (or ruler if that is easier) and measure your clitoris. Have a partner or friend measure it for you if it is too difficult. Now you have new information you can brag about to all your friends, family, you name it! You can even try comparing sizes.
In conclusion, however you enjoy your clitoris, I hope you enjoyed learning about it.
As always, stay open, stay curious, stay safe, and stay kinky.
References
Elsevier. (n.d.). Frenulum of Clitoris. Elsevier Anatomy. https://www.elsevier.com/resources/anatomy/urogenital-system/female-genital-system/frenulum-of-clitoris/23789
Ferrin, P. C., Uloko, M. I., & Peters, B. R. (2024). (067) How Many Nerve Fibers Innervate the Human Glans Penis: A Histomorphometric Analysis of the Human Dorsal Nerve of the Penis. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 21(Supplement_1), qdae001-063. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae001.063
Hosseinzadeh, K., Heller, M. T., & Houshmand, G. (2012). Imaging of the female perineum in adults. Radiographics, 32(4), E129-E168.
Longhurst, G. J., Beni, R., Jeong, S. R., Pianta, M., Soper, A. L., Leitch, P., … & Fisher, L. (2024). Beyond the tip of the iceberg: A meta‐analysis of the anatomy of the clitoris. Clinical Anatomy, 37(2), 233-252.
Mazloomdoost, D., & Pauls, R. N. (2015). A comprehensive review of the clitoris and its role in female sexual function. Sexual Medicine Reviews, 3(4), 245-263.
Puppo V. (2011). Embryology and anatomy of the vulva: the female orgasm and women’s sexual health. European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, 154(1), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2010.08.009
Uloko, M., Isabey, E. P., & Peters, B. R. (2023). How many nerve fibers innervate the human glans clitoris: a histomorphometric evaluation of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris. The journal of sexual medicine, 20(3), 247–252. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdac027
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is not meant to replace the advice from a medical and/or health professional.
This was very interesting and informative! Thanks for the hard work you put in to it. The diagrams were very helpful and same with the photos. I love how clear it is that you love celebrating anatomy.