The clitoris sits at the very top of the vulva, where the inner lips meet. The visible part is roughly the size of a pea, though it varies from person to person, and it’s often partially or fully covered by a small fold of skin called the clitoral hood. With a mirror, good lighting, and a little familiarity with the surrounding anatomy, most people can locate it within seconds.
What You’re Looking For
The part of the clitoris you can see and touch is called the glans. It’s a small, rounded nub of tissue located above the urethral opening (where urine comes out) and nestled between the inner lips of the vulva. Those inner lips naturally converge at the top, forming a hood of skin that drapes over the glans. Depending on your anatomy, that hood may cover the glans completely, partially, or barely at all.
In clinical measurements, the visible glans typically ranges from about 5 to 12 millimeters in length and 3 to 7 millimeters in width. That’s smaller than many people expect, which is one reason it can feel elusive at first. Color also varies widely: the glans may appear pink, red, or darker than the surrounding skin, and its texture is smooth compared to the folds of the labia around it.
How to Locate It Step by Step
You’ll need clean hands, a small handheld mirror, and good lighting. Find a private, comfortable space where you can sit or lie back with your knees bent and legs apart. Hold the mirror between your legs so you can see the full vulvar area.
Start by looking at the overall layout. The outer lips (labia majora) are the outermost folds. Gently part them with your index and middle fingers to reveal the inner lips (labia minora), which are thinner and often more textured. Follow the inner lips upward toward where they join at the top. That meeting point is where the clitoral hood sits.
With gentle pressure, retract the hood slightly by pulling the skin upward toward your belly. The small, rounded glans should become visible underneath. If you can’t see it clearly, try adjusting the angle of your mirror or the direction of the light. You can also use your fingertip to feel for it: it’s a firm, distinct bump beneath the hood, and it’s noticeably more sensitive to touch than the surrounding tissue.
Why It Might Be Hard to See
Bodies vary considerably. Some people have a prominent glans that peeks out from the hood without any effort, while others have a hood that fully covers it and requires gentle retraction. Neither is abnormal. The size and shape of the surrounding labia also affect how easy the glans is to spot visually, which is why touch is often a more reliable guide than sight alone.
In some cases, the hood can become partially stuck to the glans through small adhesions. This happens when the skin of the hood fuses to the surface of the glans, sometimes trapping a buildup of dead skin cells underneath. One study found that 37% of anatomical samples had these small keratin deposits, and they were more common when adhesions were present. If you can’t retract the hood at all, or if doing so causes pain, that may indicate adhesions or a condition called clitoral phimosis, both of which a gynecologist can evaluate and treat.
What You’re Feeling by Touch
The glans contains over 10,000 nerve fibers, making it the most sensitive spot on the vulva by a significant margin. A 2022 study from Oregon Health & Science University arrived at this count by directly examining tissue samples, revising the long-cited estimate of 8,000 (a number originally extrapolated from livestock research). This concentration of nerve endings is why even light touch on or near the glans produces a strong sensation, and why many people find it easier to locate by feel than by sight.
When you run a fingertip along the inner lips toward the top of the vulva, the glans stands out as a small, firm bump that responds immediately to pressure. Start with very light, indirect contact (touching around or over the hood) before touching the glans directly, since the density of nerve endings can make direct contact feel too intense without arousal.
How Arousal Changes Things
During sexual arousal, blood flow to the genital area increases and the clitoral tissue becomes engorged, similar to an erection. The glans may swell slightly and become more prominent, making it easier to see and feel. It also becomes more responsive to touch at this stage. After arousal passes, the tissue returns to its resting size.
This is worth knowing because the clitoris can be easier to locate when you’re aroused. If you’re exploring purely for orientation (just trying to understand your anatomy), a mirror and good lighting are your best tools. If you’re exploring during sexual activity, the increased engorgement does some of the work for you.
Most of the Clitoris Is Internal
The visible glans is only a small fraction of the full structure. The clitoris extends internally with two legs (called crura) that run along either side of the vaginal canal, plus two bulbs of tissue flanking the vaginal opening. Altogether, the internal structure spans several inches. Researchers at MIT are currently building 3D maps from MRI scans of over 150 adults to document how this internal anatomy varies by age, body type, and other factors.
This matters practically because stimulation that feels good isn’t limited to the external glans. Pressure on the front vaginal wall, the area around the vaginal opening, or the mons (the padded area above the vulva) can all indirectly stimulate parts of the internal clitoral network. Understanding that the clitoris is a larger structure helps explain why pleasurable sensation can come from areas that seem unrelated to the small visible nub at the top.
Tips for Partners
If you’re trying to locate a partner’s clitoris, the anatomy is the same: top of the vulva, where the inner lips converge, beneath the hood. But every person’s anatomy is shaped a little differently, so the glans may sit higher or lower, be more or less hooded, or respond better to different types of pressure. Asking your partner to guide your hand is the most direct and reliable approach.
Start with broad, gentle contact over the whole vulvar area rather than immediately targeting the glans. Many people find indirect stimulation (through the hood, or alongside the glans rather than directly on it) more comfortable, especially before full arousal. Pay attention to physical responses: changes in breathing, muscle tension, or movement toward or away from your hand are more informative than visual landmarks alone.