Synonyms
Definition and Anatomy
The clitoris corresponds to the head of the penis in a man in a woman. The penis and clitoris comprise the same embryonic tissue, and the externally visible part accounts for a quarter of its total size (Kece, 2021). The clitoris is also called clitourethrovaginal (CUV) complex. The only visible part of the clitoris in the middle, which looks like an upside-down “Y,” is the glans of the clitoris. The clitoral anatomy is formed by a 2–4 cm long body, a root connecting the body with the crura, a 5–9 cm long crura, and a 3–7 cm long vestibular bulb (Gunter, 2021). Long nerve fibers may extend 12–15 cm down the inside of the thighs, beginning at the clitoris. The size of the clitoris, which begins to grow at puberty, varies depending on the person. The clitoral glans width is between 2 and 5 mm, while the length is between 3 and 7 mm (Riksförbundet För Sexuell Upplysning [RFSU], 2008). The vagina and the clitoris are interconnected...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Blechner, M. J. (2017). The Clitoris: Anatomical and psychological issues. Studies in Gender and Sexuality, 18(3), 190–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/15240657.2017.1349509
Colombo, R. (1559). De re anatomica libri XV. In F. Serra (Eds.), (pp. 247–278). Venetiis (Venice): ex typographia Nicolai Bevilacquæ.
Di Marino, V., & Lepidi, H. (2014). History of the Clitoris. In: Anatomic study of the Clitoris and the Bulbo-Clitoral Organ (pp. 1–12). Springer.
Freud, S. (1905). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. In J. Strachey (Eds.), The Standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud.
Gross, R. E. (2020). The Clitoris, uncovered: an intimate history - Scientific American. Scientific American. Retrieved September 8, 2022, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-clitoris-uncovered-an-intimate-history/#:~:text=Clitoris%20comes%20from%20the%20Greek,an%20ancient%20play%20on%20words.
Gunter, J. (2021). Başlangıc (B. S. Haktanır, Trans.). In G. Büyükkaya (Ed.), Vajina Kitabı (pp. 19–72). (Original work published 2019).
Hensel, D. J., von Hippel, C. D., Lapage, C. C., & Perkins, R. H. (2022). Women’s techniques for pleasure from anal touch: Results from a U.S. probability sample of women ages. PloS One, 17(6), Article e0268785. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268785
Herbenick, D., Fu, T.-C. (Jane), Arter, J., Sanders, S. A., & Dodge, B. (2017). Women’s experiences with genital touching, sexual pleasure, and orgasm: Results from a U.S. Probability sample of women ages 18 to 94. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44(2), 201–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2017.1346530.
Hoy, M., van Stein, K., Strauss, B., & Brenk-Franz, K. (2021). The influence of types of stimulation and attitudes to clitoral self-stimulation on female sexual and orgasm satisfaction: A cross-sectional study. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00618-2
Kece, C. (2020). Kadının Cinsel Yaşamı (pp. 13–17). Pusula Yayınevi.
Kece, C. (2021). Cinselligin Dayanılmaz Agırlıgı (9th ed., pp. 163–167). Pusula Yayınevi.
Kocatepe, K. (2011). Kadın Cinselligi. In: Cinsellik Rehberiniz (pp. 35–71). Inkılap Kitabevi.
Leff, J. J., & Israel, M. (1983). The relationship between mode of female masturbation and achievement of orgasm in coitus. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 12(3), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542073
O’Connell, H. E., Sanjeevan, K. V., & Hutson, J. M. (2005). Anatomy of the Clitoris. The Journal of Urology, 174(4), 1189–1195. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ju.0000173639.38898
Pastor, Z., Chmel, R., Nováčková, M., & Krejčová, L. (2017). The role of the Clitoris in female sexuality. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 14(5), 349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.04.728
Prause, N., Kuang, L., Lee, P., & Miller, G. (2016). Clitorally stimulated orgasms are associated with better control of sexual desire, and not associated with depression or anxiety, compared with vaginally stimulated orgasms. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(11), 1676–1685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.08.014
Pulatoglu, C., & Ellibes Kaya, A. (2020). Relationship of orgasm with measurable dimensions of clitoris and visibility of clitoral glans. Journal of Surgery and Medicine, 4(5), 390–393. https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.727165
Riksförbundet För Sexuell Upplysning (RFSU). (2008). A guide to clitoral sex. Stocholm.
Vaccaro, C. (2014). The clitoral complex is “the” spot. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 180, 192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.07.002
Wade, L. D., Kremer, E. C., & Brown, J. (2005). The incidental Orgasm: The presence of clitoral knowledge and the absence of orgasm for women. Women & Health, 42(1), 117–138. https://doi.org/10.1300/j013v42n01_07
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Polat, S., Sener, O. (2023). Clitoris. In: Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_253-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_253-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-08956-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-08956-5
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences