Editing Clitoris (section)

{{short description|Erectile female sexual organ}}
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{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Clitoris
| Latin       = clitoris
| Greek     = κλειτορίς
| Image    = Clitoris glans - detailed.jpg
| Caption    = Human clitoris. [[Pubic hair]] has been deliberately removed to show anatomical detail. Location of (1) [[clitoral hood]] and (2) [[#Glans|clitoral glans]] (the [[#Body|clitoral body]] is beneath the hood).
| Width         =
| Image2       =
| Caption2    =
| Precursor   = [[Genital tubercle]]
| System      =
| Part_of     = [[Vulva]]
| Artery      = [[Dorsal artery of clitoris]], [[deep artery of clitoris]], [[artery of bulb of vestibule|artery of bulb]], [[internal pudendal artery]]
| Vein        = [[Superficial dorsal veins of clitoris]], [[deep dorsal vein of clitoris]], [[vein of bulb of vestibule|vein of bulb]], [[internal pudendal veins]]
| Nerve       = [[Dorsal nerve of clitoris]], [[pudendal nerve]]
| Lymph       =
|Alt=Human clitoris. Pubic hair has been deliberately removed to show anatomical detail.}}

In [[amniote]]s, the '''clitoris''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Clitoris pronunciation 1.ogg|ˈ|k|l|ɪ|t|ər|ɪ|s}} {{respell|KLIT|ər|iss}} or {{IPAc-en|audio=Clitoris pronunciation 2.ogg|k|l|ɪ|ˈ|t|ɔər|ɪ|s}} {{respell|klih|TOR|iss}}; {{plural form}}: '''clitorises''' or '''clitorides''') is a female [[sex organ]].<ref name="Goodman_Roughgarden_Wingfield" /> In humans, it is the [[vulva]]'s most [[erogenous zone|erogenous]] area and generally the primary anatomical source of female [[Human sexuality|sexual]] pleasure.<ref name="Rodgers_O'Connell_Greenberg_Weiten_Carroll" /> The clitoris is a complex structure, and its size and sensitivity can vary. The visible portion, the glans, of the clitoris is typically roughly the size and shape of a pea and is estimated to have at least 8,000 [[Nerve|nerve endings]].<ref name="Carroll_Di Marino" /><ref name="ohsu/10-000-nerve">
* {{cite web |last1 = White |first1 = Franny |title = Pleasure-producing human clitoris has more than 10,000 nerve fibers |url = https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/10/27/pleasure-producing-human-clitoris-has-more-than-10-000-nerve-fibers |website = News |publisher = [[Oregon Health & Science University]] |access-date = 2 November 2022 |language = en |date = 27 October 2022 |quote = Blair Peters, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine and a plastic surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming care as part of the OHSU Transgender Health Program, led the research and presented the findings. Peters obtained clitoral nerve tissue from seven adult transmasculine volunteers who underwent gender-affirming genital surgery. Tissues were dyed and magnified 1,000 times under a microscope so individual nerve fibers could be counted with the help of image analysis software. |archive-date = 1 November 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145100/https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/10/27/pleasure-producing-human-clitoris-has-more-than-10-000-nerve-fibers |url-status = live }}
* Peters, B; Uloko, M; Isabey, P; [https://www1.statusplus.net/misc/prog-management/v2/general/abstract/5850?persons=4928&pm=23 How many Nerve Fibers Innervate the Human Clitoris? A Histomorphometric Evaluation of the Dorsal Nerve of the Clitoris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102083626/https://www1.statusplus.net/misc/prog-management/v2/general/abstract/5850?persons=4928&pm=23 |date=2 November 2022 }} 2 p.m. ET 27 October 2022, 23rd annual joint scientific meeting of Sexual Medicine Society of North America and [[International Society for Sexual Medicine]]</ref>

[[Sexology|Sexological]], medical, and psychological debate has focused on the clitoris,<ref name="Moore_Blechner_Shrage" /> and it has been subject to [[social constructionist]] analyses and studies.<ref name="Moore_Wade_Labuski" /> Such discussions range from anatomical accuracy, [[gender inequality]], [[female genital mutilation]], and [[orgasm]]ic factors and their physiological explanation for the [[G-spot]].<ref name="Shrage_Schwartz_Wood_Blechner" /> The only known purpose of the human clitoris is to provide sexual pleasure.<ref name="Rodgers_O'Connell_Kilchevsky" />

Knowledge of the clitoris is significantly affected by its cultural perceptions. Studies suggest that knowledge of its existence and anatomy is scant in comparison with that of other sexual organs (especially male sex organs)<ref name="Balcombe" /> and that more education about it could help alleviate [[social stigma|stigmas]], such as the idea that the clitoris and vulva in general are visually unappealing or that [[female masturbation]] is [[taboo]] and disgraceful.<ref name="Ogletree_Wade_Waskul" /><ref name="The Wall Street Journal" /><ref name="Moye" />

The clitoris is [[Homology (biology)|homologous]] to the [[Human penis|penis]] in males.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tortora |first1=Gerard J |last2=Anagnostakos |first2=Nicholas P |title=Principles of anatomy and physiology |date=1987 |publisher=Harper & Row |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06-046669-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/principlesofanat05tort/page/727 727]–728 |edition=5th |url=https://archive.org/details/principlesofanat05tort |url-access=registration }}</ref>

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