Clitoral erection

which lubricate the vagina. There are many ways to stimulate the clitoris.
Clitoral erection occurs when the corpora cavernosa, two
expandable erectile structures, become engorged with
blood. This may result from any of various physiological
stimuli, including sexual arousal. During sexual arousal,
arterial blood ow to the clitoris is increased, and trabecular smooth muscle within the clitoris relaxes allowing blood to engorge the erectile tissues. The ischiocavernous and bulbocavernous muscles contract to compress
the dorsal vein of the clitoris to stop drainage of the clitoris, trapping the blood. More specically, the clitoris
has 2 adjoining erectile tissues corpus cavernosa (corpus
cavernosa clitoridis) that form a main body that connects
to the glans clitoridis. There is also a strip of erectile tissue (similar to the placement of the corpus spongiosum
in males) running along the ventral surface of the corpus canervosa main body that connects the glans clitoridis
to the commissure of the vestibular bulbs.[1][2] The main
body of the corpus canervosa with a ventral erectile tissue
strip make up the shaft, which is connected to the glans
clitoridis. The tunica albuginea, a brous-elastic sheath,
surrounds the shaft and glans clitoridis. The tunica albuginea does not surround the bulbs of vestibule.[3] The erectile tissues are composed of endothelium-lined vascular
spaces in a trabecular matrix, with the endothelium-lined
vascular spaces surrounded by smooth muscle capable of
contraction and relaxation.

Vulva, not aroused (left), aroused (right), see also Biological

functions of nitric oxide

Clitoral erection is a physiological phenomenon where

the clitoris becomes enlarged and rm. Clitoral erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors, and is usually,
though not exclusively, associated with sexual arousal.

Physiology

During sexual arousal, arterial blood ow to the clitoris

is increased, and within the clitoris, the arteries further branch to supply the erectile tissues. The trabecular smooth muscles of the erectile tissue relax increasing blood ow to ll the vascular spaces, expanding the
erectile tissues until they are fully engorged with blood.[1]
The ischiocavernous and bulbocavernous muscles contract, compressing the dorsal vein of the clitoris. This
compression of the vein restricts drainage of the erectile
structures, trapping the blood.[4] This process stretches
the tunica albuginea. As a result, the clitoris becomes
tumescent to accommodate the increased intracavernous
pressure. The tunica albuginea of the clitoris is made up
of one layer making it more elastic than the tunica albuginea of the penis, which is composed of two layers.[5] Erick Janssen (2007) elaborates on this reporting that the
corpora canervosa of the clitoris are essentially similar to
that of the penis except that there is no subalbugineal layer
interposed between the tunica albuginea and the erectile
tissue. In the penis, this[6] tissue engorges with blood during sexual arousal and becomes compressed against the

The internal anatomy of the human vulva, with the clitoral hood
and labia minora indicated as lines.

The clitoris is the homologue of the penis in the female.

The part visible on the outside varies in size from a few
millimeters to one centimeter and is located hidden in the
upper labial fold. Any type of motion can increase blood
ow to this organ and this results in increased secretions
1

REFERENCES

unyielding tunica, creating penile rigidity --a true erec- structure. The major nerve which produces sensations to
tion. The lack of this plexus in the clitoris indicates that the clitoris is a branch of the pudendal nerve, also known
while the organ can become tumescent or engorged, it as the dorsal nerve of the clitoris.[9]
cannot, like the penis become stiy erect. The clitoris
thus does not really become erect with sexual excitement,
but engorged.[6] In addition, the tunica albuginea around
6 See also
the glans is thinner than around the shaft in both the clitoris and penis. This gives the glans less rmness relative
Erection
to the shaft. The extrusion of the glans clitoridis and thinning of the skin enhances sensitivity to physical contact.
Sexual function
After a female has orgasmed, the erection usually ends,
but this may take time.

7 Notes
2

Signs of clitoral stimulation

See also: Sexual arousal Female physiological response

Stimulation of the clitoris can lead to vaginal wetness and
engorgement and swelling of the clitoris and the labia,
along with increased redness or darkening of the skin in
these areas. Further sexual arousal can lead to changes
to the internal organs, including to the internal shape of
the vagina and to the position of the uterus within the
pelvis.[7] Other changes include an increase in heart rate
as well as in blood pressure, feeling hot and ushed and
perhaps experiencing tremors.[8] A sex ush may extend
over the chest and upper body. If sexual stimulation continues, then sexual arousal may peak into orgasm.

Shape and size

An erect clitoris can take on a number of dierent shapes

and angles, ranging from small and embedded, to large
and protruding. Generally, the size of an erect clitoris is
xed throughout post-pubescent life.

Priapism

A clitoral erection that does not subside is a form of

priapism called clitorism, a painful condition where the
clitoris will experience recurring erections.

Neurovascular mechanism of clitoral erection

The clitoris consists of an external short head attached

to a long body which is internally located. The body of
the clitoris is surrounded by bulky erectile tissue on either
side. This bulk contains muscles and is richly innervated
with sensory nerves. While the penis is an external organ
which is distended, the clitoris is small and is an internal

[1] Bono, Christopher M.; Lin, Vernon W. (May 14, 2014).

Spinal Cord Medicine: Principles and Practice (2nd
ed.). Demos Medical Publishing. p. 1176. ISBN
9781935281771. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
[2] Clemente, Carmine D. (2010). Clementes Anatomy Dissector. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 205. ISBN
978-1-60831-384-6. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
[3] Mulhall, John P.; Incrocci, Luca; Goldstein, Irwin;
Rosen, Ray (Apr 23, 2011). Cancer and Sexual Health.
Springer Science & Business Media. p. 17. ISBN
9781607619161.
[4] Hornstein, Theresa; Schwerin, Jeri (Jan 1, 2012). Biology
Of Women (5th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 816. ISBN
9781285401027. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
[5] Goldstein, Irwin; Meston, Cindy M.; Davis, Susan; Traish,
Abdulmaged (November 17, 2005). Womens Sexual
Function and Dysfunction:Study, Diagnosis, and Treatment. CRC Press. p. 176. ISBN 9781842142639.
[6] Jansen, Erick (September 27, 2007). The Psychophysiology of Sex. Indiana University Press. p. 41. ISBN
9780253117045. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
[7] Soucasaux, Nelson (1990). The Female Sexual Response. Novas Perspectivas em Ginecologia. Retrieved
10 August 2010.
[8] McKinne, Kathleen (1991). Sexuality in close relationship. Routledge. p. 59. ISBN 0-8058-0719-5. Retrieved
2013-11-03.
[9] Sydney Morning Herald. The clitoris: anatomy of a revolution 2010-02-09.

8 References
Gharahbaghian, L. (1 November 2008). Clitoral
priapism with no known risk factors. The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine 9 (4): 235
237. ISSN 1936-900X. PMC 2672283. PMID
19561754.

3
Gragasin, S.; Michelakis, D.; Hogan, A.; Moudgil,
R.; Hashimoto, K.; Wu, X.; Bonnet, S.; Haromy, A.;
Archer, L. (Sep 2004). The neurovascular mechanism of clitoral erection: nitric oxide and cGMPstimulated activation of BKCa channels (FREE
FULL TEXT). The FASEB Journal 18 (12): 1382
1391. doi:10.1096/fj.04-1978com. ISSN 08926638. PMID 15333581.
Shen, W. U.; Urosevich, Z.; Clayton, D. O. (June
1999). Sildenal in the treatment of female sexual
dysfunction induced by selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (FREE FULL TEXT). The Journal of reproductive medicine 44 (6): 535542. ISSN 00247758. PMID 10394548.
Park, K. G.; Goldstein, I.; Andry, C.; Siroky, M. B.;
Krane, R. J.; Azadzoi, K. M. (Mar 1997). Vasculogenic female sexual dysfunction: the hemodynamic basis for vaginal engorgement insuciency and clitoral erectile insuciency. International Journal of Impotence Research 9 (1): 27
37. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900258. ISSN 0955-9930.
PMID 9138056.
Toesca, A. S.; Stol, V. M.; Cocchia, D. (1 June
1996). Immunohistochemical study of the corpora cavernosa of the human clitoris. Journal of
anatomy. 188 ( Pt 3) (Pt 3): 513520. ISSN 00218782. PMC 1167479. PMID 8763468.
Akkus, E. C.; Carrier, S.; Turzan, C.; Wang, T.
N.; Lue, F. (Apr 1995). Duplex ultrasonography
after prostaglandin E1 injection of the clitoris in
a case of hyperreactio luteinalis. The Journal of
Urology 153 (4): 12371238. doi:10.1016/S00225347(01)67566-9.
ISSN 0022-5347.
PMID
7869513.

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