Most sex-ed diagrams — and most mental models people carry into adulthood — show the clitoris as a small external nub near the top of the vulva. That's the glans, and it's real, but it's genuinely just the visible tip. The rest of the structure sits inside the body, wraps around the vaginal canal and urethra, and plays a much bigger role in arousal and orgasm than the external picture suggests.
The whole structure, not just the glans
What's visible externally is the glans (the sensitive external tip) and the clitoral hood (a fold of skin that partially or fully covers it, continuous with the labia minora). From there, the structure continues internally as the body, which then splits into two crura ("legs") that run back along either side of the pubic bone, roughly 5-9 cm each. Alongside the crura sit two additional erectile structures called the vestibular bulbs, which lie along either side of the vaginal opening and urethra.
In other words: the structure most people call "the clitoris" and picture as a small external point is really the visible tip of something that wraps around a large portion of the vulva and vaginal opening from the inside.
Nerve density and sensitivity
You'll often see it stated that the clitoral glans contains around 8,000 nerve endings — roughly double a commonly cited figure for the glans of the penis. That number traces back to a small, decades-old anatomical study and gets repeated far more often than it gets re-verified, so treat it as a widely-cited rough figure rather than a precise modern measurement. What's not seriously disputed: the clitoris is broadly considered the most nerve-dense structure in the body relative to its size, and unlike the penis or vagina, it isn't shared with any reproductive or urinary function — as far as current science can tell, sensation is its only job.
What happens during arousal
The crura and bulbs are erectile tissue — the same general tissue type that makes up the internal structures of the penis — and they engorge with blood during arousal. Externally, this can pull the hood back and make the glans more exposed and more sensitive; for some people, that sensitivity becomes uncomfortable at higher arousal levels, which is part of why indirect stimulation (through the hood, or with pressure rather than direct contact) works better for a lot of people than constant direct contact.
Why "vaginal orgasm" undersells what's happening
The old framing of "clitoral" versus "vaginal" orgasms as two separate things doesn't hold up well against the anatomy above. Because the internal bulbs and crura sit right alongside the vaginal canal, pressure on the front vaginal wall during penetration can be transmitting sensation through those same internal clitoral structures rather than through some separate, unrelated area. Some researchers specifically argue that what's commonly called the G-spot may be explained this way — as internal clitoral tissue being compressed against the vaginal wall — though this remains genuinely debated rather than settled.
The practical takeaway: most orgasms involve the clitoris in some way, directly or through internal structures, even when the sensation is described as "vaginal." That's also consistent with survey data showing a persistent orgasm gap between partners during penetration-focused sex without added clitoral stimulation — see our Canadian sex-statistics hub for the numbers.
What this means in practice
Because so much of the structure is internal and not directly reachable, technique that only targets the visible glans is working with a small fraction of the whole thing. Pressure through the mons, indirect stimulation through the hood, and combining external touch with penetration (engaging the internal bulbs from both sides) all make anatomical sense given what's actually there. Our oral sex guide and masturbation guide both cover specific technique built around this.
Frequently asked questions
Is most of the clitoris really inside the body?
Yes. The glans and hood you can see externally are a small part of a much larger structure — the body extends internally and splits into two legs (crura) that run along the pubic bone, alongside two additional erectile structures called the vestibular bulbs. MRI-based anatomical studies describe the full structure as extending roughly 9 to 10 centimeters end to end.
Why is the clitoris so much more sensitive than other genital structures?
It's the only genital structure whose sole known function is sensation — unlike the penis or vagina, it isn't also involved in reproduction or urination. It's also extremely nerve-dense for its size, which is the anatomical basis for why direct glans stimulation can feel intense enough to require an indirect approach for some people.
Is the G-spot part of the clitoris?
It's genuinely debated. Some researchers argue that what's described as G-spot sensation may come from pressure on the internal parts of the clitoris — specifically the bulbs and crura — pushing against the front vaginal wall, rather than from a separate, distinct structure. There's no full scientific consensus on this yet.
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