Generalities and Functions
The clitoris is an erectile organ, located in the upper and anterior part of the vulva. Although its most sensitive part measures only a few millimeters, it is the most important organ of the female genital apparatus in terms of voluptuous sensations; the importance of the clitoris in giving sexual pleasure is such that most women can reach orgasm through manipulation.
The clitoris is considered by some to be the female correspondent of the male penis, with the difference that - while the latter also performs other functions - the clitoris seems exclusively to give pleasure to the woman.
CURIOSITY
The sensory innervation of the clitoris is the highest in the human body; just think that around eight thousand nerve endings flow into the area, about twice those of the male penis.
The sensitivity of the clitoris is such that too strong or direct stimulation can produce a sensation of discomfort, if not pain.
Anatomy
The clitoris is found in the superior and anterior part of the vulva, in the point of union of the small lips. It is located just above the opening of the urethra, which in turn is positioned a few millimeters later than the opening of the vagina.
The clitoris has a shape similar to a Y. It in fact originates with two oblique lateral halves in the shape of a cone, called clitoral roots . These roots converge at the top towards the center of the vulva, giving rise to a unique, cylindrical structure, called the clitoris body . This area stretches 2-3 centimeters before bending sharply forward forming the so-called elbow or knee of the clitoris ; from here it heads in the opposite direction, backwards and downwards.
The body of the clitoris ends with a free, swollen, conical shape with a blunted top; this is the glans, the most sensitive part of the organ.
The area of the clitoral body that goes from the glans to the elbow is called the clitoris shaft .
Elbow, rod and glans constitute the free parts of the clitoris and are covered with a skin sleeve with a protective function, called a clitoral hood or foreskin . Between the glans and foreskin there is normally a small fold called the preputial cavity.
BRAKE AND PREPARATION
Anteriorly, the small lips split, giving rise to two skin folds on each side. The two lateral folds join ventrally above the body and glans to form the foreskin. The two medial folds, on the other hand, unite to form the frenulum of the clitoris, which joins the glans. In this way, the glans connects to the medial part of the small lips through two small folds that start from the frenulum.
During sexual stimulation, the labia minora open and swell, "uncovering" the clitoris slightly and thereby increasing its sensitivity.
CURIOSITY
Like men, women can also suffer from phimosis problems. This condition occurs when the skin cap (foreskin) that covers the glans has a conformation such as to wrap the organ tightly, even in a state of sexual excitement. Failure to uncover the glans may therefore limit a woman's sexual pleasure.
It should be pointed out, however, that many women have such a strong clitoral sensitivity that the complete retraction of the foreskin makes the stimulation annoying if not even painful.
Size of the Clitoris
There is often confusion about the average size of the clitoris. This is because many texts report the dimensions of the entire structure, while in the common imagination only the glans is considered a clitoris. The latter - which, as we have seen, is the part that protrudes between the small lips, more or less covered by the foreskin - has dimensions similar to those of a pencil eraser, but a little smaller. In particular, the average size of the clitoris (understood as the glans) is 0.3 - 0.5cm.
According to data collected by Dr. Robert Latou Dickinson - author of Atlas of Human Sex Anatomy - on a sample of about 100 women:
- 5% had a glans of the clitoris shorter than 0.3cm;
- 75% had a glans of the clitoris between 0.3 and 1.5cm long;
- 20% had a glans of the clitoris between 0.7 and 1.5cm long.
There is therefore a wide variability in the female population about the size of the clitoris; the same variability is also recorded for other structural components of the vulva, such as large and small labia, which can vary significantly in size and conformation.
Above 1.5 cm, the clitoris is considered to be too large; in this case the doctors talk about clitoral hypertrophy.
CURIOSITY
In its entirety the clitoris measures 60-70mm on average, thus distributed:
- roots: they have a length of 30-35mm
- body: has a length of 25-30mm
- glans: as anticipated, it has a length of 0.3-0.7mm
The diameter of the clitoris is on average about 7mm.
Clitoral hypertrophy - Clitoridomegaly
Clitoral hypertrophy - or clitoridomegaly - is a condition in which the clitoris is too large. This is a typical problem linked to persisting too high levels of androgenic hormones; the latter are the sex hormones typical of the male, but are also produced in small quantities by the woman.
The excess of androgens (responsible for hirsutism - virilization) can be registered in cases of hypertrichosis, polycystic ovary syndrome or abuse of anabolic steroids. Although a greater level of androgens in women is normally associated with an increase in sexual desire, it should be specified that there is no relationship between the size of the clitoris and the effectiveness of its function.
CURIOSITY
In the human species the clitoris has undergone an involution process compared to primates. For example, the female spider monkey has a clitoris about 5 centimeters large. For this reason, as in the case of the spotted hyena, the spider monkey's clitoris is often mistaken for a penis.
In female elephants the clitoris is well developed and measures up to 40 centimeters, becoming longer when it is upright.
Clitoris erection
The clitoris is made up of erectile tissue. At the time of sexual excitement, a greater quantity of blood flows into the organ, which increases its size and consistency, making it turgid and elastic.
However, the erect clitoris does not reach the consistency of the erect penis; this is because, in women, there is no blockage of the venous outflow that allows the penis to maintain an erection.
Near the orgasm, the clitoris shrinks under the foreskin, only to re-emerge when sexual stimulation is completed.
CURIOSITY
It is not uncommon to observe in primates the use of objects, such as twigs, to stimulate the clitoris. Even the porcupine females were observed while stimulating the clitoris, a practice quite common even among dolphins.
