Clitoris: Anatomy, Function & Sensitivity

What Is the Clitoris?

The clitoris is the primary organ of sexual pleasure for most people with a vulva. Its visible tip sits where the inner labia meet at the top of the vulva, but the structure is mostly internal — a shaft, two crura, and two vestibular bulbs extending several centimetres inside the pelvis. A high concentration of nerve endings makes it the most sensitive structure in the vulval region.

The Full Anatomy

What most people picture when they think of the clitoris is just the glans: the small, rounded tip visible at the top of the vulva, partially or fully covered by the clitoral hood (a fold of skin that is the female anatomical equivalent of the foreskin). The glans can range from a few millimetres to more than a centimetre across — both are entirely normal.

Below the surface, the shaft of the clitoris runs upward for a short distance before dividing into two structures called crura (singular: crus). The crura are wishbone-shaped legs that angle back and down along the pubic arch, anchoring the clitoris to the pelvis. Alongside them run the vestibular bulbs — two elongated masses of erectile tissue that flank the vaginal opening and extend toward the labia.

All of these structures are made from the same erectile tissue as the penis. During arousal, blood fills the tissue, the clitoris becomes engorged, the glans swells and may partially emerge from beneath the hood, and overall sensitivity increases.

Why the Nerve Supply Matters

The clitoris has a high concentration of nerve endings, concentrated particularly in the glans. This density is one reason that direct stimulation of the glans can be intensely pleasurable — and also why too much direct pressure on an unaroused or overstimulated clitoris is often uncomfortable. Many people find that stimulation through the clitoral hood, or along the shaft rather than directly on the glans tip, is more consistently enjoyable.

The pudendal nerve carries sensation from the clitoris to the spinal cord and brain. Arousal state, blood flow, and hormonal environment all modulate how that input is experienced — which is why sensitivity shifts across the menstrual cycle, with age, during pregnancy, and after menopause.

The Internal Clitoris and the G-Spot

Because the vestibular bulbs wrap around the front wall of the vaginal canal, internal stimulation in the area commonly called the G-spot likely activates internal clitoral tissue. This is now the mainstream view among anatomists and sex researchers: the G-spot is not a separate gland or structure but a region where the internal clitoris can be reached through the vaginal wall. Penetration at certain angles — particularly ones that press toward the front wall — can stimulate these bulbs indirectly.

For a deeper look at how this translates to partner positions, see how to finger a girl, which covers angle and technique in practical terms. Positions that keep the pelvis tilted toward the front wall — such as those in the missionary sex positions family — also reach this same internal tissue.

Common Myths

"The clitoris is just a small bump." The visible glans is only the tip. The full organ is several centimetres long and spans a significant portion of the vulval and pelvic anatomy.

"Vaginal orgasms and clitoral orgasms are different types." Most sex researchers now treat this distinction as anatomically misleading. Orgasms reached through vaginal stimulation almost always involve the internal clitoris, whether or not the external glans is directly touched.

"Everyone with a vulva has the same clitoral sensitivity." Anatomy, hood thickness, arousal state, and individual neurology all vary. There is no universal standard.

Related Terms

The clitoris does not operate in isolation. Queefing — one common side effect of penetrative sex — involves the vaginal canal directly adjacent to where the vestibular bulbs sit. Arousal primes the whole system (increasing blood flow, lubrication, and engorgement), and the degree of arousal before penetration significantly affects how responsive the clitoris becomes.

For practical application, best positions for clitoral stimulation covers the positions most likely to provide consistent external or internal clitoral contact during partnered sex.

The Bottom Line

The clitoris is the body's primary sexual pleasure organ for most people with a vulva — far larger than its visible tip suggests, and responsible for the majority of orgasms. Its external glans is the most concentrated source of sensation, but the internal crura and vestibular bulbs mean that penetration can stimulate the same organ from inside. Understanding its full anatomy is the starting point for understanding how arousal and orgasm actually work.

Related terms: Blue Balls · French Kiss

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the clitoris?

The clitoris is the primary organ of sexual pleasure for most people with a vulva. Its visible tip — the glans — sits where the inner labia meet at the top of the vulva, but most of the structure is internal: a shaft, two crura (legs) that extend along the pelvic bones, and two vestibular bulbs that flank the vaginal canal. The entire organ is densely supplied with nerve endings, making it the most sensitive structure in the vulval region.

How much of the clitoris is external vs. internal?

Only a small portion of the clitoris is visible. The glans — the external tip — is typically a few millimetres to about a centimetre across and sits beneath the clitoral hood. The internal portion is several centimetres long in total. The shaft lies just beneath the surface, and the crura and vestibular bulbs extend deeper into the pelvis, wrapping around the vaginal canal.

Why does clitoral sensitivity vary from person to person?

Several factors influence how sensitive the clitoris is: anatomy (the size of the glans and the thickness of the clitoral hood vary considerably between people), hormonal levels, age, arousal state, and how much blood flow reaches the tissue at any given moment. There is no single normal level of sensitivity — it varies within the same person over time as well.

What role does the clitoris play during sex and orgasm?

The clitoris is the focal point of sexual arousal for most people with a vulva. Stimulation — whether direct touch to the glans, pressure on the mons pubis, or internal pressure near the vaginal wall — activates the same erectile tissue and nerve pathways. Clitoral orgasm is the most reliably reached type of orgasm for the majority of people with a vulva, whether through partnered sex or solo stimulation.

Is the clitoris connected to the G-spot?

The internal arms of the clitoris — particularly the vestibular bulbs — run along the front wall of the vaginal canal, near the area commonly called the G-spot. Stimulation of that area from inside the vagina likely activates the internal clitoral tissue rather than a separate structure. Most researchers now consider the G-spot to be an expression of internal clitoral stimulation rather than an anatomically distinct organ.