THE CLITORIS. 2025 



tegument and nymphae, the position of the body and its angle undergo but slight 

 change even in the turgescent condition of the organ. In their general structure 

 the corpora cavernosa clitoridis, apart from their reduced size and feebler develop- 

 ment, correspond with those of the penis, including cylinders of erectile tissue en- 

 closed by a tunica albuginea and separated where blended by a septum. The glans, 

 however, is composed chiefly of fibrous tissue and contains little true cavernous 

 structure ; it is, of course, not perforated by the urethra. 



The Bulbus Vestibuli. — The vestibular bulb consists of two converging 

 elongated masses of cavernous tissue, completely separated except in front, where 

 they are connected by a narrow isthmus, the pars intermedia. They embrace the 

 lower end of the vagina and the urethra, and anteriorly meet the under surface of the 

 cavernous bodies of the clitoris. The organ, as above noted, represents the bulbar 

 and adjoining parts of the corpus spongiosum, of which the component parts have 

 remained ununited in consequence of the persistence of the urogenital cleft, each 

 half corresponding to a semibulb of the united structure in the male. Each bulb, 

 regarding the organ as paired, is a wedge-shaped body, narrow in front and broad 

 and rounded behind, that measures from 3-4 cm. in length, where broadest from 

 1-1.5 cm. in width, and less than i cm. in thickness. Above, it rests against the 

 inferior layer of the triangular ligament, its lower margin, somewhat medially di- 

 rected, being covered by the base of the labium majus and the nympha. Behind, 

 the medial surface is closely related to the lateral wall of the vaginal entrance, and 

 when well developed may extend backward as far as the posterior wall of the vagina. 

 In front, the bulb passes at the side of the urethra and joins the under surface of the 

 clitoris. Laterally and below, it is covered by the fibres of the bulbo-cavernosus mus- 

 cle. The rounded hind end meets or covers the gland of Bartholin. The two bodies 

 together form a compressed crescentic or horseshoe-shaped complex of venous spaces, 

 enclosed by a thin tunica albuginea, that resembles the cavernous tissue of the corpus 

 spongiosum, although less definite in structure. 



Vessels. — The arteries supplying the clitoris and vestibular bulb correspond 

 with those distributed to the homologous parts of the penis, but are of smaller size. 

 As in the male, the first branch to the cavernous tissue is the artery of the bulb 

 (a. buibi vestibuli), which enters that body near its posterior end as a short and 

 comparatively strong vessel and joins with additional twigs to the bulb from the deep 

 artery of the clitoris (a. profunda clitoridis), a branch corresponding to the urethral 

 artery passing to the pars intermedia. Each cavernous body receives the deep branch 

 that enters the crus and, sending a minute twig backward, traverses the cylinder of 

 erectile tissue towards the glans, communicating with its fellow of the opposite side 

 as well as with the dorsal artery (a. dorsalis clitoridis). The latter, the terminal part 

 of the internal pudic and smallest of the vessels supplying the clitoris, pursues a 

 course identical with that of the corresponding vessel of the penis, but is minute in 

 consequence of the reduced dimensions of the parts supplied. 



The veiyis follow the general arrangement observed in the penis, the blood being 

 carried off chiefly by the dorsal vein and the venous channels that more closely 

 accompany the arteries. The most important modification is the presence of the 

 plexus intermedins (Kobelt), a venous complex that lies between the under surface 

 of the corpora cavernosa, just as they begin to diverge into the crura, and the united' 

 anterior ends of the -halves of the bulbus vestibuli. This plexus not only establishes 

 connections between the blood-spaces of the corpora cavernosa and the bulbus 

 vestibuli, but also receives tributaries from the prepuce and frenum of the clitoris, the 

 nymphae, and the adjacent parts of the vestibule. In addition to the stems that join 

 the internal pudic veins, the cavernous spaces of the bulb communicate with the 

 urethral, vaginal, and hemorrhoidal plexuses. In consequence of the connections 

 between the plexus intermedius and the dorsal vein of the clitoris, the latter vessel 

 is relatively of large size. 



The lymphatics for the most part are afferents of the superficial inguinal lymph- 

 nodes; communications exist, however, with the deeper intrapelvic paths and nodes. 



The nerves of the clitoris are derived and distributed in correspondence with 

 the plan observed in the penis. They are, therefore, extensively from the sympa- 

 thetic system for the walls of the blood-spaces and from the pudic nerves. The 



