For the first time, scientists have created a detailed 3D map of the nerves within the clitoris, an organ that has been historically understudied. The research, led by Ju Young Lee at Amsterdam University Medical Center, used high-energy X-rays to scan two donated female pelvises, revealing the intricate network of nerve branches in unprecedented detail.
The mapping shows that some branches of the clitoral nerves extend to the mons pubis, clitoral hood, and labial structures, challenging previous anatomical assumptions. Notably, the scans indicate that the dorsal nerve of the clitoris continues strongly to the glans, contradicting earlier beliefs that it diminishes. The widest nerve measured 0.7mm across.
Helen O'Connell, a Melbourne urologist who published the first comprehensive anatomical study of the clitoris in 1998, said the findings are crucial for understanding female sexual function. 'Orgasm is a brain function that leads to improved health and wellbeing,' she noted, adding that the clitoris has been 'deleted intellectually by the medical and scientific community.'
The research could improve outcomes for women undergoing pelvic surgeries, including reconstructive surgery after female genital mutilation (FGM). About 22% of women who have surgical reconstruction after FGM experience a decline in orgasmic experience; better nerve mapping may reduce this. The work may also inform vulvar cancer surgery, gender reassignment, and cosmetic procedures like labiaplasty.
The study has been posted on the preprint server bioRxiv and has not yet been peer reviewed. Lee hopes to open a clitoris exhibition at Amsterdam University Medical Center to raise awareness about the organ's anatomy.
