“Most men know more about what’s under the hood of a car than what is under the hood of a woman’s clitoris.” - Habeeb Akande, A Taste of Honey
Understanding the Clitoris
The clitoris has long been misrepresented and misunderstood, and even now, it still holds some riddles that science is yet to solve.
In humans, the clitoris has been firmly tied to sexual pleasure, though whether it plays any other role is still a matter for debate.
Despite approximately half the world's population being born with a clitoris, this sexual organ is not talked about very much, and, until very recently, even the information that we might have found about it in textbooks was incorrect or misleading.
The nature of the clitoris can be found in the name itself; "clitoris" comes from the Ancient Greek word "kleitoris," meaning "little hill," and which itself may also be related to the word "kleis," meaning "key."
1. More than just a 'little hill'
Although this organ may be the key that unlocks female sexual pleasure, it is not just a "little hill," as it has long been believed.
In fact, the little hill (protected by a cloak of skin, or the "clitoral hood," which is found over the urethral opening) is just the tip of the much larger organ that is the clitoris.
That tip, called the clitoral gland, is the most readily visible part of this genital organ.
Yet the entire organ extends much farther than that, and this notion was initially brought to public attention only a few years ago by researcher Dr. Helen O'Connell.
"The vaginal wall is, in fact, the clitoris. If you lift the skin off the vagina on the side walls, you get the bulbs of the clitoris — triangular, crescental masses of erectile tissue," Dr. O'Connell explained in an interview with the BBC in 2006.
The clitoris has three major components:
The glans is also the part that is richest in free nerve endings, thus providing the most sensation.
2. 'Grand Central Station of erotic sensation'
Due to its high level of sensitivity, the clitoris is usually the main player when it comes to the female orgasm.
Popular culture and pornographic material often tend to depict the female orgasm as something usually achievable solely through penetration, but science tells a different story altogether.
Most women, researchers have found, will only achieve orgasm when the clitoris — or, more specifically, the glans clitoris — is also stimulated.
Sex educator and researcher Emily Nagoski calls the female genital organ the "Grand Central Station of erotic sensation" in her book Come As You Are.
In fact, recent studies suggest that women who experience the less common, and sometimes more controversial types of orgasm — vaginal orgasm due to penetration, or vaginal orgasm through G spot stimulation — may actually have clitoral stimulation to thank.
3. A female penis?
The clitoris has also sometimes been seen as a female penis, largely due to a phenomenon that we may refer to as "biological homology," which refers to the fact that all fetuses are born, as Emily Nagoski puts it, with "all the same part, organized in different ways."
This is also why men — who, unlike women, will not need, or be able, to express milk and breast-feed babies — have nipples.
They still develop nipples, however, because they — like pretty much all body parts — are preprogrammed in the earliest stages of embryonic development.
In other words, men and women actually mirror each other physiologically to a very great extent.
And this is how the clitoris develops; it and the penis are homologues. Nagoski explains how this happens during very early development in the womb.
"About 6 weeks after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, there is a wash of masculinizing hormones," she writes.
"The male blastocyst (a group of cells that will form the embryo) responds to this by developing its 'prefab' universal genital hardware into the male configuration of penis, testicles, and scrotum. The female blastocyst does not respond to [this] [...] and instead develops its prefab universal genital hardware into the default, female configuration of clitoris, ovaries, and labia."- Emily Nagoski
4. Evolutionary relic or erotic bonus?
While the penis and the clitoris are homologous, however, the penis plays several roles — erotic, reproductive, and excretive — while the clitoris performs only one job: that of creating erotic sensation, which may lead to orgasm. Why might that be?
According to Nagoski, the female orgasm is a "byproduct" of biological homology, and so it should be celebrated as a fantastic bonus.
"Male ejaculation, with its close tie to orgasm, is crucial to reproduction," she explains. "As a result, orgasm is embedded on female sexual hardware, too."
But some researchers believe that the female orgasm may not always have been "a bonus."
Instead, they think that, similarly to male orgasm — which coincides with the release of semen — female orgasm may have stimulated the release of ovules.
For instance, the authors of an article that was published in 2016 in the journal JEZ-B Molecular and Developmental Evolution found that immediately after orgasming, women experience a hormonal surge that, in the modern human, has the effect of improving the mood.
But the substances thus released in the body, the scientists say, are not unlike those released in the bodies of other female mammals such as rats during intercourse, stimulating the release of eggs that can be fertilized.
In humans, ovulation is a spontaneous event, independent from intercourse. But the authors of the aforementioned study hypothesize that, at some point in our evolutionary past, we may well have functioned like other mammals, and female orgasm may have stimulated the release of ovules.
Now, orgasm has persisted as a pleasurable evolutionary legacy, without the reproductive association.
5. Why is the clitoris so taboo?
But why has it taken so long for scientists to start taking more of an interest in the clitoris, and why is it that someone only took the initiative to scan the clitoris and produce an accurate representation of it in 2009?
In an article published in the journal Sex Roles in 2000, researchers Shirley Mattel Ogletree and Harvey J. Ginsburg write that the clitoris had been shrouded in secrecy.
Nobody liked to talk about it, and the problem, the investigators suggested, started in the home.
They write, "[B]ecause the clitoris's only function is for sexual pleasure, parents have no [...] reason to discuss the clitoris."
More shockingly, though, they found, "Even 'experts' providing advice to parents have used terms other than clitoris" when discussing the importance of female genitalia.
In a culture that has focused on the importance of reproduction to the detriment of enjoyment, the clitoris has lain forgotten, and the public and medical professionals alike have felt embarrassed to discuss and pay closer attention to it.
Yet the lack of a conversation about female genitalia and female pleasure may affect the way in which women understand their sexual health, and it may even impact their sex lives.
"Reclaiming the clitoris may help women actively discover their own sexual pleasure and be more independent in the sexual choices that they make," conclude Ogletree and Ginsburg.
We hope that this Spotlight can further the conversation about the clitoris, and that it has provided you with further insight into the wonders of female sexuality.
Source: Medical News Today
The clitoris has long been misrepresented and misunderstood, and even now, it still holds some riddles that science is yet to solve.
In humans, the clitoris has been firmly tied to sexual pleasure, though whether it plays any other role is still a matter for debate.
Despite approximately half the world's population being born with a clitoris, this sexual organ is not talked about very much, and, until very recently, even the information that we might have found about it in textbooks was incorrect or misleading.
The nature of the clitoris can be found in the name itself; "clitoris" comes from the Ancient Greek word "kleitoris," meaning "little hill," and which itself may also be related to the word "kleis," meaning "key."
1. More than just a 'little hill'
Although this organ may be the key that unlocks female sexual pleasure, it is not just a "little hill," as it has long been believed.
In fact, the little hill (protected by a cloak of skin, or the "clitoral hood," which is found over the urethral opening) is just the tip of the much larger organ that is the clitoris.
That tip, called the clitoral gland, is the most readily visible part of this genital organ.
Yet the entire organ extends much farther than that, and this notion was initially brought to public attention only a few years ago by researcher Dr. Helen O'Connell.
"The vaginal wall is, in fact, the clitoris. If you lift the skin off the vagina on the side walls, you get the bulbs of the clitoris — triangular, crescental masses of erectile tissue," Dr. O'Connell explained in an interview with the BBC in 2006.
The clitoris has three major components:
- the glans clitoris, which is the only visible part of the organ, accounting for "a fifth or less" of the entire structure
- the two crura, which extend, like brackets, down from the glans clitoris and deep into the tissue of the vulva, on either side
- the two bulbs of the vestibule, which extend either side of the vaginal orifice (not all researchers agree that the vestibular bulbs have a relation to the clitoris, however; researchers Vincenzo and Giulia Puppo, for instance, argue that the clitoris consists "of the glans, body, and crura" only)
The glans is also the part that is richest in free nerve endings, thus providing the most sensation.
2. 'Grand Central Station of erotic sensation'
Due to its high level of sensitivity, the clitoris is usually the main player when it comes to the female orgasm.
Popular culture and pornographic material often tend to depict the female orgasm as something usually achievable solely through penetration, but science tells a different story altogether.
Most women, researchers have found, will only achieve orgasm when the clitoris — or, more specifically, the glans clitoris — is also stimulated.
Sex educator and researcher Emily Nagoski calls the female genital organ the "Grand Central Station of erotic sensation" in her book Come As You Are.
In fact, recent studies suggest that women who experience the less common, and sometimes more controversial types of orgasm — vaginal orgasm due to penetration, or vaginal orgasm through G spot stimulation — may actually have clitoral stimulation to thank.
3. A female penis?
The clitoris has also sometimes been seen as a female penis, largely due to a phenomenon that we may refer to as "biological homology," which refers to the fact that all fetuses are born, as Emily Nagoski puts it, with "all the same part, organized in different ways."
This is also why men — who, unlike women, will not need, or be able, to express milk and breast-feed babies — have nipples.
They still develop nipples, however, because they — like pretty much all body parts — are preprogrammed in the earliest stages of embryonic development.
In other words, men and women actually mirror each other physiologically to a very great extent.
And this is how the clitoris develops; it and the penis are homologues. Nagoski explains how this happens during very early development in the womb.
"About 6 weeks after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, there is a wash of masculinizing hormones," she writes.
"The male blastocyst (a group of cells that will form the embryo) responds to this by developing its 'prefab' universal genital hardware into the male configuration of penis, testicles, and scrotum. The female blastocyst does not respond to [this] [...] and instead develops its prefab universal genital hardware into the default, female configuration of clitoris, ovaries, and labia."- Emily Nagoski
4. Evolutionary relic or erotic bonus?
While the penis and the clitoris are homologous, however, the penis plays several roles — erotic, reproductive, and excretive — while the clitoris performs only one job: that of creating erotic sensation, which may lead to orgasm. Why might that be?
According to Nagoski, the female orgasm is a "byproduct" of biological homology, and so it should be celebrated as a fantastic bonus.
"Male ejaculation, with its close tie to orgasm, is crucial to reproduction," she explains. "As a result, orgasm is embedded on female sexual hardware, too."
But some researchers believe that the female orgasm may not always have been "a bonus."
Instead, they think that, similarly to male orgasm — which coincides with the release of semen — female orgasm may have stimulated the release of ovules.
For instance, the authors of an article that was published in 2016 in the journal JEZ-B Molecular and Developmental Evolution found that immediately after orgasming, women experience a hormonal surge that, in the modern human, has the effect of improving the mood.
But the substances thus released in the body, the scientists say, are not unlike those released in the bodies of other female mammals such as rats during intercourse, stimulating the release of eggs that can be fertilized.
In humans, ovulation is a spontaneous event, independent from intercourse. But the authors of the aforementioned study hypothesize that, at some point in our evolutionary past, we may well have functioned like other mammals, and female orgasm may have stimulated the release of ovules.
Now, orgasm has persisted as a pleasurable evolutionary legacy, without the reproductive association.
5. Why is the clitoris so taboo?
But why has it taken so long for scientists to start taking more of an interest in the clitoris, and why is it that someone only took the initiative to scan the clitoris and produce an accurate representation of it in 2009?
In an article published in the journal Sex Roles in 2000, researchers Shirley Mattel Ogletree and Harvey J. Ginsburg write that the clitoris had been shrouded in secrecy.
Nobody liked to talk about it, and the problem, the investigators suggested, started in the home.
They write, "[B]ecause the clitoris's only function is for sexual pleasure, parents have no [...] reason to discuss the clitoris."
More shockingly, though, they found, "Even 'experts' providing advice to parents have used terms other than clitoris" when discussing the importance of female genitalia.
In a culture that has focused on the importance of reproduction to the detriment of enjoyment, the clitoris has lain forgotten, and the public and medical professionals alike have felt embarrassed to discuss and pay closer attention to it.
Yet the lack of a conversation about female genitalia and female pleasure may affect the way in which women understand their sexual health, and it may even impact their sex lives.
"Reclaiming the clitoris may help women actively discover their own sexual pleasure and be more independent in the sexual choices that they make," conclude Ogletree and Ginsburg.
We hope that this Spotlight can further the conversation about the clitoris, and that it has provided you with further insight into the wonders of female sexuality.
Source: Medical News Today
“The clitoris is pure in purpose. It is the only organ in the body designed purely for pleasure.” ― Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues
Clitoris - 3D Model
French sociomedical researcher Odile Fillod designed the world’s first open-source, anatomically correct, printable 3D clitoris. It has been used for sex education in French schools, from primary to secondary level, since September 2016.
From Fillod’s sculpture, pupils will learn that the clitoris is made up of the same tissue as the penis. That it is divided into crura or legs, bulbs, foreskin and a head. That the only difference between a clitoris and a penis is that most of the female erectile tissue is internal – and that it’s often longer, at around 8 inches.
“It’s important that women have a mental image of what is actually happening in their body when they’re stimulated,” Paris-based sociomedical researcher Odile Fillod says. “In understanding the key role of the clitoris, a woman can stop feeling shame, or [that she’s] abnormal if penile-vaginal intercourse doesn’t do the trick for her – given the anatomical data, that is the case for most women.”
“It’s also vital to know that the equivalent of a penis in a woman is not a vagina, it’s her clitoris. Women get erections when they’re excited, only you can’t see them because most of the clitoris is internal.”
Fillod has hopes that doctors as well as school teachers, will use her sculpture to learn – and teach – the truth about the female body. “France has the reputation for being sexually sophisticated, but often it’s about male sexuality.” However, she is optimistic about the future. “Understanding that they have an erectile system just like men, I think women will start to experiment more. They will understand that pleasure is not some magic that only a partner knows how to give.”
Source: The Guardian
French sociomedical researcher Odile Fillod designed the world’s first open-source, anatomically correct, printable 3D clitoris. It has been used for sex education in French schools, from primary to secondary level, since September 2016.
From Fillod’s sculpture, pupils will learn that the clitoris is made up of the same tissue as the penis. That it is divided into crura or legs, bulbs, foreskin and a head. That the only difference between a clitoris and a penis is that most of the female erectile tissue is internal – and that it’s often longer, at around 8 inches.
“It’s important that women have a mental image of what is actually happening in their body when they’re stimulated,” Paris-based sociomedical researcher Odile Fillod says. “In understanding the key role of the clitoris, a woman can stop feeling shame, or [that she’s] abnormal if penile-vaginal intercourse doesn’t do the trick for her – given the anatomical data, that is the case for most women.”
“It’s also vital to know that the equivalent of a penis in a woman is not a vagina, it’s her clitoris. Women get erections when they’re excited, only you can’t see them because most of the clitoris is internal.”
Fillod has hopes that doctors as well as school teachers, will use her sculpture to learn – and teach – the truth about the female body. “France has the reputation for being sexually sophisticated, but often it’s about male sexuality.” However, she is optimistic about the future. “Understanding that they have an erectile system just like men, I think women will start to experiment more. They will understand that pleasure is not some magic that only a partner knows how to give.”
Source: The Guardian
Like the penis, clitorises also get erections when they’re excited, only you can’t see them because most of it is internal. And that invisible erectile tissue is actually longer than an erect penis (which averages out just over 5 inches). The hidden stem of the clitoris? Averages out at around 8 inches. Yes, my friends she is not really like a button, but more like a massive iceberg.
"Reclaiming the clitoris may help women actively discover their own sexual pleasure and be more independent in the sexual choices that they make,"
Facts About The Clitoris
1. The clitoris isn't just the nub at the top of your vulva.
Even though it looks like the small button begins and ends there, the clitoris actually extends deep into the body, all the way down to the mouth of the vagina and also has internal structures as well, kind of like a wishbone. Who knew?!
2. And no, the clitoris isn't "in" the vagina, either.
Never hurts to hammer this point home, but the term vagina just refers to the tube that connects the vulva to the uterus and cervix.
3. Those same internal clitoral structures might actually be what we think of as the G-spot.
In sonograms, researchers looked at how the inside of our bodies change during sex, and they found that during penetration, the vagina flexes in a way that makes the penis rub through the vaginal wall and onto the internal structures of the clitoris, which people often think is G-spot stimulation. It can vary from woman to woman, but for some women, when they experience G-spot orgasms, it's actually just an internal extension of the clit.
4. Not all clit stimulation feels good.
We're all told that the clit is the only organ designed purely for pleasure, but that's not true. It's actually designed for sensation. But if you're not turned on, any kind of clitoral stimulation might not actually feel good. Basically, it's not a magic doorbell that you can press at any time of day and everything will magically open up for you. You have to be in the mood first for anything to happen there.
5. Clitorises vary greatly in size, anything from tiny peas to a reasonably sized gherkin pickle.
The size really can vary that much, and every size, from the smallest to the largest, is completely normal (unless you're experiencing pain, in which case, you should see a doctor).
6. Speaking of size, your clitoris at times can actually get bigger.
When aroused, blood rushes to the genitals, making your clit actually swell to a larger size.
7. Just because you have a large clit doesn't mean you're less sensitive or more sensitive.
It just means your clit is larger, but there's no connection between the size of your clit and what kind of stimulation it likes. It could be larger and like less stimulation or prefer more stimulation. You really can't tell just by looking at it.
8. Every clit likes different types of stimulation.
This is especially important for people dating vagina owners: Just because you can give one clit orgasms doesn't mean that, when the next one comes along, you'd be able to do the same for them. For example, in oral sex some clits like a flat, soft tongue and others like a flicky, hard tongue. So your guy might've been able to make one woman come by using the same method every time, but then when he goes down on you, that might not feel great at all. Every clit is different. Like a snowflake on your vulva.
Source: Cosmpolitan
1. The clitoris isn't just the nub at the top of your vulva.
Even though it looks like the small button begins and ends there, the clitoris actually extends deep into the body, all the way down to the mouth of the vagina and also has internal structures as well, kind of like a wishbone. Who knew?!
2. And no, the clitoris isn't "in" the vagina, either.
Never hurts to hammer this point home, but the term vagina just refers to the tube that connects the vulva to the uterus and cervix.
3. Those same internal clitoral structures might actually be what we think of as the G-spot.
In sonograms, researchers looked at how the inside of our bodies change during sex, and they found that during penetration, the vagina flexes in a way that makes the penis rub through the vaginal wall and onto the internal structures of the clitoris, which people often think is G-spot stimulation. It can vary from woman to woman, but for some women, when they experience G-spot orgasms, it's actually just an internal extension of the clit.
4. Not all clit stimulation feels good.
We're all told that the clit is the only organ designed purely for pleasure, but that's not true. It's actually designed for sensation. But if you're not turned on, any kind of clitoral stimulation might not actually feel good. Basically, it's not a magic doorbell that you can press at any time of day and everything will magically open up for you. You have to be in the mood first for anything to happen there.
5. Clitorises vary greatly in size, anything from tiny peas to a reasonably sized gherkin pickle.
The size really can vary that much, and every size, from the smallest to the largest, is completely normal (unless you're experiencing pain, in which case, you should see a doctor).
6. Speaking of size, your clitoris at times can actually get bigger.
When aroused, blood rushes to the genitals, making your clit actually swell to a larger size.
7. Just because you have a large clit doesn't mean you're less sensitive or more sensitive.
It just means your clit is larger, but there's no connection between the size of your clit and what kind of stimulation it likes. It could be larger and like less stimulation or prefer more stimulation. You really can't tell just by looking at it.
8. Every clit likes different types of stimulation.
This is especially important for people dating vagina owners: Just because you can give one clit orgasms doesn't mean that, when the next one comes along, you'd be able to do the same for them. For example, in oral sex some clits like a flat, soft tongue and others like a flicky, hard tongue. So your guy might've been able to make one woman come by using the same method every time, but then when he goes down on you, that might not feel great at all. Every clit is different. Like a snowflake on your vulva.
Source: Cosmpolitan