| 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] | |
The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is a nerve in females that branches off the pudendal nerve to innervate the clitoris. The nerve is important for female sexual pleasure, and it may play a role in clitoral erections.
It travels from below the inferior pubic ramus 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. The DNC splits into two nerve branches on either side of the midline, closely following the crura of the clitoris.
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.
The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is analogous to the dorsal nerve of the penis in males. It is a terminal branch of the pudendal nerve.
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- 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.
- Šedý, Jiří; Naňka, Ondřej; 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
- Anatomy image:9209 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy image:9278 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
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