“It’s not the size that counts”: if the expression is often used about male sexual organs, it is also true for females! At least that’s what it says a recent study from Oregon Health & Science University, who managed to count the nerve fibers of the clitoris, even more numerous than we thought. That such a small organ has so many is fascinating, analyze the researchers, in a press release published on the Medicalxpress website.
Until now, it was estimated that the clitoris had around 8,000 nerve endings, which made it a particularly sensitive organ. It is moreover the only human organ whose sole purpose is to provide pleasure. But the number would actually be 20% higher than that…the latter would be around 10,000!
This is explained by Blair Peters, specialized in gender affirmation surgery. The surgeon works in the Transgender Health Program at the University of Oregon and conducted the study using seven transmaculine people (who make a so-called “feminine to masculine transition”) and in this case go through phalloplasty (masculinization of the genitals). When erecting the penis, he took a very small part of the clitoris, to study its nervous structure.
At least 10,000 nerve endings, but probably more
Within the clitoris, there is a “dorsal nerve”, which unfolds in duplicate. He went to do his analysis there, and found 5,140 nerve fibers inside it. As it is split, he multiplied this figure by two to find out the total fibers that the clitoris contains, namely 10,281. In reality, there would be even more, because the clitoris still has other smaller nerves besides the dorsal nerve.
Compared to the hand, which has 18,000 nerves and which is much larger in size, the researchers find it fascinating to see so many nerve endings on such a small organ… And take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of further studying the still little known female sexual apparatus. Moreover, these discoveries could contribute to improving the care of patients who have undergone genital mutilation.
Source: Medicalxpress, Oregon University
