280 HUMAN ANATOMY. 



The clitoris corresponds to the penis in the male, resem- 

 bling it also in form, structure, and connections. 



It is about one and one-half to two inches in length, and 

 consists of a pair of corpora cavernosa, and a double, spongy 

 body, surmounted by a glans clitoridis. 



The corpora cavernosa arise by two crura attached to the 

 rami of the pubes and ischium like the penis, and united in front 

 by the septum pectiniforme. They curve abruptly down, being 

 attached to the pubic symphysis by a suspensory ligament. The 

 body and crura represent a tripod. 



The glans corresponds to that of the male penis, but is not 

 perforated by the urethra. It is covered by the prceputium 

 clitoridis, a hood-like fold of skin continuous with the nymphas. 



The corpus spongiosum consists of an intermediate portion 

 and semibulbs. The former consist of a plexus of veins, inclosed 

 in a fibrous membrane. 



The semibulbs, or bulbi vestibuli, are about the size of large 

 almonds, and are situated beneath the vestibule, embracing the 

 orifices of the urethra and vagina. In front of the bulbs, between 

 them and the clitoris, is a smaller plexus called the pars inter- 

 media. 



The arteries, nerves, and veins are the same as those of the 

 penis. 



The nymplice, or labia minora, are two folds of mucous 

 membrane diverging from the praeputium clitoridis to the labia, 

 where they are lost. At their superior extremity they divide 

 into two folds, the upper forming the prceputium clitoridis, the 

 lower one the frcenum. 



These diverging labia inclose a triangular space, the vesti- 

 bule, at the middle of the base of which is situated the orifice 

 of the urethra, or meatus urinarius. 



The bladder in the female is larger and broader than in 

 the male. It is situated behind the pubes, in front of the 

 uterus, from which it is separated by the small intestine, and 

 rests upon the anterior wall of the vagina and cervix uteri. 



The urethra is a short but capacious canal, one and one-half 

 inches in length, one-quarter inch in diameter, extending beneath 

 the pubic symphysis from the neck of the bladder to the meatus. 

 It lies in the anterior wall of the vagina, and perforates the 

 triangular ligament precisely as does the male urethra (vide 

 Urethra). 



Below the vestibule is the entrance or orifice of the vagina. 

 The mucous membrane of the labia is reflected continuously to 

 the clitoris, nymphae, prepuce, and vestibule, and becomes con- 

 tinuous with the vagina and urethra. 



