The clitoris is a small, rounded structure located at the top of the vulva, where the inner lips of the labia meet. What’s visible from the outside is only a fraction of the full organ. Most of the clitoris sits beneath the skin, extending several inches into the body in a wishbone-like shape.
The Visible Part: The Glans and Hood
The part you can see is called the glans, a small, rounded nub of tissue that sits just above the urethral opening. In adults, the glans typically ranges from about the size of a small pea to a larger lentil, though there’s significant variation from person to person. It’s often described as a smooth, slightly shiny bud of tissue, and its color can range from pink to darker shades depending on overall skin tone and blood flow.
A fold of skin called the clitoral hood covers the glans, much like foreskin covers the tip of a penis. How much of the glans is visible depends entirely on the hood’s size and shape. In some people, the hood covers the glans completely, and you’d need to gently retract the skin to see it. In others, the glans peeks out partially or sits mostly exposed. All of these presentations are normal. A pediatric anatomy study identified four distinct hood shapes across the population: horseshoe, trumpet, coffee bean, and tent. That variety continues into adulthood.
The Hidden Structure Beneath the Surface
The external glans connects to a shaft that runs upward beneath the skin for a short distance before the structure splits into two legs, called crura, that extend along either side of the pubic bone. Below the crura sit two bulbs of erectile tissue that flank the vaginal canal. MRI studies, particularly work by Australian urologist Dr. Helen O’Connell, revealed that the clitoris, urethra, and vaginal walls form a tightly connected complex of tissue. The bulbs of erectile tissue, once classified as a separate structure, are now recognized as part of the clitoris itself.
When mapped in three dimensions, the full clitoris resembles a wishbone or a small upside-down tulip. The total structure can be roughly 7 to 12 centimeters in length, making it far larger than what’s visible at the surface. This internal network of erectile tissue is why stimulation of areas beyond the glans, including the vaginal walls, can produce clitoral sensation.
Why It Contains So Many Nerve Endings
The glans is the most nerve-dense part of the entire organ. A 2023 study estimated that the clitoral glans alone contains more than 10,000 sensory nerve fibers, making it one of the most sensitive structures in the human body. Those nerves are packed into a very small area, which explains why even light touch can produce strong sensation, and why overstimulation can feel uncomfortable.
How It Changes During Arousal
The clitoris is made of erectile tissue, the same type of tissue found in a penis. During sexual arousal, blood flow to the clitoris increases substantially. The erectile tissue in the shaft, crura, and bulbs fills with blood, causing the entire structure to swell. At the surface, this engorgement pushes the glans outward, making it more prominent and visually noticeable. The glans may appear slightly larger, darker in color, and firmer to the touch. The surrounding labia and hood tissue also become more engorged. After arousal subsides, blood drains from the tissue and the clitoris returns to its resting state.
Changes Across a Lifetime
The clitoris changes in size at several life stages. During puberty, rising hormone levels cause the clitoral tissue to grow along with other reproductive structures. The glans becomes slightly more prominent, and the internal erectile tissue matures.
During pregnancy, increased blood volume and hormonal shifts can make the clitoris appear larger and more sensitive than usual. This is temporary and resolves after delivery.
After menopause, declining estrogen and progesterone levels trigger a process called urogenital atrophy. The tissues of the vulva, including around the clitoris, become thinner. The clitoris doesn’t disappear, but it can become smaller over time and may be less visible beneath the hood. This tissue thinning can also change sensation during sexual activity, sometimes making previously pleasurable touch feel uncomfortable or painful. Topical estrogen therapy is one option that can help maintain tissue health in this area.
Normal Variation Is Wide
There is no single “correct” appearance for a clitoris. The glans can be round, slightly elongated, or barely visible beneath the hood. Some are more prominent and easy to locate visually, while others sit deeper beneath the hood and surrounding tissue. Color ranges from pale pink to brown to deep purple, all within the normal spectrum. Size varies too: a very small glans and a noticeably larger one are equally typical.
The medical threshold for unusually large clitoral size, a condition called clitoromegaly, is defined by a specific measurement called the clitoral index (the width of the glans multiplied by the length). Values under about 4.35 mm² are considered typical, while values above 10 mm² may prompt a medical evaluation, usually related to hormone levels. This is rare and generally identified in infancy or early childhood.