One of the most persistent myths about female sexuality is that the clitoris is small. That's not accurate — the part we can see is small. The rest, over 90 percent, lies beneath the skin, branches around the vagina and extends over a far larger area than most people — including doctors until recently — realize.
In this blog we explain the complete anatomy, why this knowledge only became mainstream in 2005, and what it means for how you can explore stimulation.
The Complete Structure
The clitoris consists of six main components:
1. The glans (tip) — the visible button under the clitoral hood. This is what most people call "the clitoris". It is a fraction of the whole.
2. The body (corpus) — just behind the glans, about 25 millimeters long, sitting directly under the skin.
3. Two crura ("legs") — from the body the structure splits into two "legs" that run deep into the pelvis, each about 52 millimeters long.
4. Two bulbs — between the crura and the vaginal wall sit two erectile bulbs, also about 52 millimeters each, which swell during arousal.
In total: 9 to 11 centimeters of reactive erectile tissue, most of it invisible.
The Scientific History (Why We Didn't Know)
The complete anatomy of the clitoris was only accurately mapped in 2005 by Helen O'Connell and colleagues, who used MRI scans of living women to visualize the whole organ. Until then, anatomical atlases mostly showed the glans — as if the structure ended there.
In 2015, Rachel N. Pauls published a comprehensive review in Clinical Anatomy (Pauls, 2015) bringing together the structure and function of all components. Since then this has been the standard reference in sexology.
The delay wasn't a technical problem — it was a research priority. The structure simply wasn't examined for a long time.
What This Means for Stimulation
If 90% of the clitoris lies beneath the skin, you can reach it more ways than only via the glans. Concretely:
External glans stimulation — the most sensitive spot for most women, with the highest density of nerve endings. Suited to a precise bullet like the ODES Intima.
Broader external stimulation — a wand vibrator like the ODES Sense touches not just the glans but also the underlying body and bulbs. That explains why "broad" feels more intense than "precise" for some women.
Vaginal stimulation via the G-spot — the G-spot area is increasingly viewed as the place where the crura and bulbs are indirectly stimulated from inside. A targeted vibrator like the ODES Hush reaches this area. Read our guide on G-spot stimulation for more.
Combination — what many women describe as the more intense orgasm is a combination: external glans AND internal stimulation simultaneously. Tarzan vibrators like the ODES Lustra are designed for exactly this.
Why This Also Explains the Orgasm Gap
The orgasm gap — the fact that heterosexual women reach orgasm significantly less often through penetration alone than men — is largely explained by the geometry of the clitoris. Penetration alone doesn't touch the glans and only partially stimulates the bulbs. For most women, additional external stimulation is therefore necessary. Read our guide on the orgasm gap for more.
Common Misconceptions
"My clitoris is too small." Most likely not. Variation in glans size is significant, but the total organ is surprisingly uniform. What you see externally says little about sensitivity.
"The G-spot and the clitoris are different things." Increasing research suggests the "G-spot" mainly touches the internal components of the clitoris (the bulbs) from inside the vagina. Not a separate structure, the same structure from a different angle.
"An orgasm is an orgasm." Anatomically that's true — it's the same response. But the combination of stimulation types changes subjective intensity considerably.
FAQ
How do I find what works for me?
Experiment with pressure, speed and position of stimulation. What feels different with direct glans stimulation versus indirect pressure? Our ultimate guide to clitoral stimulation goes deeper on technique.
Can orgasm happen through penetration alone?
For some women yes — when the position exerts enough pressure on the external glans, or when the crura and bulbs are sufficiently engaged. For most women not.
Does the clitoris age?
After menopause some women notice changes in sensitivity, partly due to declining estrogen levels. Read our blog on libido and menopause for context.
Conclusion
The clitoris isn't a button — it's an extensive, largely invisible organ that branches around the vagina and extends over a far larger area than generations of anatomical atlases showed. That knowledge changes how you can explore your own body: more ways, more combinations, more pleasure.
Choose deliberately by preference: the ODES Intima for precise glans stimulation, the ODES Sense Wand for broad external sensation, or the ODES Hush for internal crura/bulbs. Browse the full collection for her.
Sources:
1. Pauls, R. N. (2015). Anatomy of the clitoris and the female sexual response. Clinical Anatomy, 28(3), 376-384.
2. O'Connell, H. E., Sanjeevan, K. V., & Hutson, J. M. (2005). Anatomy of the clitoris. Journal of Urology, 174(4), 1189-1195.
