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Clitoris

The clitoris is a female erectile organ located at the anterior junction of the labia minora. It is homologous to the penis in males, composed of paired corpora cavernosa and a glans, and is highly innervated for sexual arousal. Unlike the penis, it has no urinary function. Its deep components extend into the perineum, attaching to the pubic rami. The clitoris is clinically and radiologically significant in sexual medicine, urology, gynecology, and imaging.

Synonyms

  • Female erectile organ

  • Clitoral body

  • Glans of clitoris

Anatomy, Course, and Parts

  • Glans: Distal, visible part located beneath the prepuce at the anterior vulva; richly innervated and highly sensitive.

  • Body: Cylindrical portion composed of paired corpora cavernosa surrounded by tunica albuginea; lies beneath the pubic symphysis.

  • Crura: Paired extensions of the corpora cavernosa, attached along the ischiopubic rami.

  • Bulbs of vestibule (closely associated): Although separate, they contribute to clitoral engorgement during arousal.

Relations

  • Anteriorly: Prepuce and mons pubis

  • Posteriorly: Urethra and vaginal vestibule

  • Laterally: Ischiopubic rami and bulbs of vestibule

  • Superiorly: Pubic symphysis (covered by suspensory ligament of clitoris)

Function

  • Primary organ of female sexual arousal and pleasure

  • Engorges with blood during sexual stimulation

  • Contains numerous sensory nerve endings, mainly from the dorsal nerve of clitoris (branch of pudendal nerve)

  • Provides protective role in vulvar anatomy by being shielded under the prepuce

Clinical Significance

  • Important landmark in gynecologic and urologic surgery

  • May be affected by congenital anomalies (clitoromegaly, ambiguous genitalia)

  • Involved in trauma, infection, and rarely neoplasms

  • MRI used in evaluation of intersex conditions, female sexual dysfunction, and surgical planning (e.g., gender-affirming surgery)

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • No fluid: Clitoris appears as a low-to-intermediate signal soft tissue structure

  • Fat: Appears bright, surrounding the clitoris in mons pubis and labia

  • Engorged/vascularized tissue: May show higher signal compared to baseline

T2-weighted images:

  • No fluid: Corpora cavernosa and glans show intermediate signal

  • Fluid (edema, cystic lesion): Bright signal

  • Fat: Intermediate to bright surrounding signal

  • Fibrotic/atrophic change: Appears darker

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Normal: Low-to-intermediate baseline signal

  • Fluid or edema: Bright hyperintense signal

  • Fat: Suppressed, appears dark

T1 Fat-Sat Post-Contrast:

  • Normal: Homogeneous mild enhancement of vascular erectile tissue

  • Pathology: Focal, heterogeneous, or rim enhancement in infection, inflammation, or tumor

CT Appearance

Non-Contrast CT:

  • Clitoris appears as a soft tissue density at the anterior vulva beneath pubic symphysis

  • Fat around clitoris provides contrast and appears as low attenuation

  • Calcification or trauma may be visible as focal high density

Post-Contrast CT:

  • Normal clitoris enhances mildly and uniformly due to vascular tissue

  • Pathological lesions (infection, tumor, vascular malformation) show focal or heterogeneous enhancement

  • Surrounding fat stranding may be seen in inflammatory conditions

MRI image

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MRI image

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MRI image

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CT image

Clitoris ct axial image