First-ever 3D map of the clitoris maps every nerve in high resolution
New research suggests taking a closer look at one of the least studied organs in the human body: the clitoris, the structure responsible for female sexual pleasure.
Formerly described by a 16th century anatomist as a “shameful member”, the clitoris has historically been ignored in research, in part because of taboos. Additionally, dissection of clitoral nerve tissue is difficult due to its position relative to the surrounding pelvic organs.
“Our research was able to show different parts of the clitoris,” said the lead author of the study. Dr. Ju Young Leepostdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam Medical Centers, told Live Science in an email. She and her collaborators photographed two pools that had been donated postmortem to the university. The project was part of Atlas of human organs initiative, which aims to restore entire organs in the smallest details.
Their findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, were published March 20 on the preprint server. bioRxiv.
Using CT images, researchers traced the dorsal clitoris nerve (DNC) – the organ’s main sensory nerve – from its point of origin within a larger pelvic nerve structure. While previous studies indicated that the DNC diminished as it approached the clitoral glans, the outer part of the clitoris, the new imaging instead reveals that the DNC extends a robust set of branches into the glans. The DNC also divides toward the mons pubis (the fatty tissue over the pubic joint) and the clitoral hood.
This work could be used to improve reconstructive procedures aimed at restoring clitoris and clitoral function in female genital mutilation patients, the study authors wrote. These procedures, which involve partial or total removal of the female external genitalia, are performed primarily on girls between infancy and age 15, can lead to serious medical complications and are considered a violation of human rights. the World Health Organization declares.
The new study could also help surgeons avoid damage to clitoral nerves during other operations on or near the vulva, the authors added.
Avoiding nerve damage is critical because there is usually little overlap between surgeons trained to operate on the genitals and those who treat peripheral nerves, said Dr. Blair Petersassociate professor of surgery at Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine. Peters, who specializes in genital nerve procedures, and colleagues published a tally of all 10,000 nerves in the human clitoris in 2022.
Although Peters was not involved in the new study, he told Live Science that the results match his own observations.
“I have the privilege of seeing these things with my own eyes,” Peters said. Until now, “this has not been meaningfully quantified in the medical literature.”
Peters added that medical recognition of the importance of the genital nerves is increasing, in part due to knowledge of gender affirmation surgeries. However, further progress is needed.
“We have peripheral nerve treatments for everything else from head to toe, but the genital area is like an unexplored black box,” Peters said. “This anatomical work is extremely important to better treat many pathologies that, for the most part, have very limited options.”
Lee said she hopes to expand her research to a larger sample spanning a wider age range. The two imaged pools presented in the new work came from postmenopausal organ donors.
“I see this work as the beginning of a long journey for new science of the clitoris,” she said.
