Dorsal nerve of the clitoris

The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is a nerve in females that branches off the pudendal nerve^[1] to innervate the clitoris. The nerve is important for female sexual pleasure,^[2] and it may play a role in clitoral erections.^[3]

Dorsal nerve of clitoris
1, Suspensory ligaments of clitoris; 2, glans clitoridis; 3, posterior superficial perineal nerve; 4, fascia lata; 5, inferior pudendal nerve; 6, sphincter vaginal muscle; 7, erector clitoridis muscle; 8, superficial perineal artery; 9, transverse perineal artery; 10, obturator fascia; 11, anterior superficial perineal nerve; 12, anal fascia; 13, deep layer of superficial fascia; 14, external sphincter ani muscle; 15, dorsal nerve of clitoris; 16, internal pudic artery; 17, perineal
Details
From	Pudendal nerve
Innervates	Clitoris
Identifiers
Latin	nervus dorsalis clitoridis
TA98	A14.2.07.042F
TA2	6562
FMA	21870
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

It travels from below the inferior pubic ramus^[4] to the suspensory ligament of the clitoris. At its thickest, the DNC is 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter, visible to the naked eye during dissection.^[2] The DNC splits into two nerve branches on either side of the midline, closely following the crura of the clitoris.^[3]

Some surgeries—for example, sling surgeries to treat female urinary incontinence—can damage the DNC, causing a loss of sensation in the clitoris. Understanding the nerve is important for urologists and gynecologists who may operate on organs near the DNC.^[2][4][5]

The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is analogous to the dorsal nerve of the penis in males.^[6] It is a terminal branch of the pudendal nerve.^[1]

See also

• Posterior labial nerves
• Perineal nerve
• Dorsal nerve of penis
• Dorsal artery of clitoris

References

1. de Groat, William C.; Yoshimura, Naoki (2015). "5 - Anatomy and physiology of the lower urinary tract". Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 130. Elsevier. p. 65. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63247-0.00005-5. ISBN 978-0-444-63247-0. ISSN 0072-9752. PMID 26003239.
2. Ginger, Van Anh T.; Cold, Christopher J.; Yang, Claire C. (2011-02-04). "Surgical anatomy of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris". Neurourology and Urodynamics. 30 (3): 412–416. doi:10.1002/nau.20996. ISSN 0733-2467. PMID 21298720. S2CID 22501531.
3. Yucel, S; De Souza A, Jr; Baskin, LS (July 2004). "Neuroanatomy of the human female lower urogenital tract". The Journal of Urology. 172 (1): 191–5. doi:10.1097/01.ju.0000128704.51870.87. PMID 15201770.
4. C, Achtari; BJ, McKenzie; R, Hiscock; A, Rosamilia; L, Schierlitz; CA, Briggs; PL, Dwyer (June 2006). "Anatomical study of the obturator foramen and dorsal nerve of the clitoris and their relationship to minimally invasive slings". International Urogynecology Journal. 17 (4): 330–334. doi:10.1007/s00192-005-0004-7. PMID 16211316. S2CID 21070405.
5. van der Walt, Sonè; van Wijk, Frans J; Abdool, Zeelha; Oettlé, Anna C (January 2017). "The dorsal nerve of the clitoris in relation to urinary incontinence sling procedures". International Urogynecological Journal. 28 (1): 119–123. doi:10.1007/s00192-016-3086-5. hdl:2263/57007. PMID 27549222. S2CID 12301185.
6. Sedý, Jiri; Nanka, Ondrej; Belisová, Marta; Walro, Jon M; Jarolím, Ladislav (November 2006). "Sulcus nervi dorsalis penis/clitoridis: anatomic structure and clinical significance". European Urology. 50 (5): 1079–1085. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2006.02.024. PMID 16519989.

External links

• Anatomy photo:41:13-0202 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Perineum: The Deep Perineal Pouch"
• http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/figs/l41/410407.htm%5B%5D
• Anatomy image:9209 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Anatomy image:9278 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center