FEMALE PERINEUM 191 



the extremity of the clitoris. The two halves of the bulb 

 would then be in contact with each other, and its entire 

 surface would be covered by a muscular stratum, after the 

 manner of the bulb and bulbo-cavernosus in the male. 

 Further, the urethra would be surrounded by erectile tissue, 

 and the pars intermedia would correspond, to some extent, to 

 that portion of the corpus cavernosum urethras which, in 

 the male, lies in front of the bulb and becomes continuous 

 with the glans penis. 



Dissection. If the stitches which were used to close the 

 vestibule have not been removed take them away now. Then 

 to display the constitution of the clitoris strip the skin away 

 from the body of the clitoris. Next dissect away the areolar 

 tissue from the body of the clitoris, but do not injure the dorsal 

 vein of the clitoris which lies in the median plane on the dorsal 

 aspect, the dorsal arteries and nerves which lie at the sides of 

 the vein, and the suspensory ligament which attaches the clitoris 

 to the front of the symphysis pubis. 



Clitoris. The body of the clitoris, which is about 38 mm. 

 (an inch and a half) long, is bent in a downward direction on 

 itself, at the lower border of the symphysis pubis. It consists 

 of a cylindrical mass of erectile tissue called the corpus 

 cavernosum clitoridis, and is homologous with the corpus caver- 

 nosum penis. Along the middle line it is partially separated 

 into right and left halves by an imperfect septum. Anteriorly 

 it terminates in a small rounded tubercle, which bears the 

 name of the glans clitoridis. The glans, however, is not 

 structurally continuous with the corpus cavernosum. It is 

 a little mass of erectile tissue continuous with the pars inter- 

 media, and fitting into a slight concavity which is formed 

 for its reception on the extremity of the corpus cavernosum. 

 Posteriorly, opposite the lower part of the symphysis pubis, 

 the corpus cavernosum separates into two parts, the crura 

 clitoridis, which diverge widely from each other. Each crus 

 is attached by its deep surface to the rami of the pubis 

 and ischium, and is covered by the corresponding ischio- 

 cavernosus muscle. 



The clitoris, then, consists of three parts: (i) a glans 

 continuous with the pars intermedia ; (2) a body ; and (3) two 

 crura, attached to the sides of the pubic arch. It has been 

 noted that the pars intermedia corresponds with part of the 

 corpus cavernosum urethrae in the male. The clitoris in 

 the female, therefore, closely resembles the penis in the male, 



