We're unlocking the biggest mysteries of the clitoris

The clitoris, long neglected in medical research, is finally revealing its secrets. Historically, for every study on the clitoral gland, 20 focused on its male counterpart, the penile gland, according to Prof Blair Peters. Medical disciplines have left it out—urology focuses on urinary tracts and penises, while gynaecology examines reproductive organs, not the clitoris. For much of the 20th century, male-dominated medical research determined which anatomy deserved study, leading to the clitoris being removed from the 1947 Gray's Anatomy textbook.

Breakthroughs are changing this. In 1998, Australian urologist Helen O'Connell first accurately depicted the entire organ, including internal structures beneath the pubic bone. Earlier this year, Dr Ju Young Lee from Amsterdam UMC created the first digital map of clitoral nerves using CT imaging, tracing pathways to a thousandth of a millimetre. The research revealed the dorsal nerve branches like a tree rather than tapering, with extensive connections to the clitoral hood and surrounding skin.

Peters, a plastic surgeon specializing in gender-affirming care, describes the clitoris as a "half-closed flower bud" with external head and internal petals. His 2022 work found over 10,000 nerve endings in the clitoral dorsal nerve—far exceeding the previous estimate of 8,000 based on animal subjects. This research promises improved care for women's health, particularly regarding the urethra and vagina, which are closely located to the clitoris.

阴蒂，长期被医学研究忽视的器官，终于开始揭示其秘密。据布莱尔·彼得斯教授称，历史上，每一篇关于阴蒂腺体的研究，就有20篇聚焦于其男性对应物——阴茎腺体。医学学科将其排除在外：泌尿学关注尿道和阴茎，而妇科则检查生殖器官，不包括阴蒂。20世纪大部分时间里，由男性主导的医学研究决定了解剖学哪些部分值得研究，导致阴蒂在1947年的《格雷氏解剖学》教科书中被移除。

突破性进展正在改变这一局面。1998年，澳大利亚泌尿科医生海伦·奥康纳首次准确描绘了整个器官，包括耻骨下方的内部结构。今年早些时候，阿姆斯特丹UMC的朱英利医生利用CT成像创建了首张阴蒂神经数字地图，追踪路径精确到千分之一毫米。该研究揭示了背侧神经分支像树一样展开，而非逐渐变细，并与阴蒂包皮及周围皮肤有广泛连接。

彼得斯是一位专注于性别肯定护理的整形外科医生，他将阴蒂描述为一朵“半开的花蕾”，具有外部头部和内部花瓣。他2022年的研究发现，阴蒂背侧神经中包含超过1万个神经末梢，远超此前基于动物实验估计的8000个。这项研究有望改善女性健康护理，特别是对与阴蒂位置密切相关的尿道和阴道。

关键实体：人物：布莱尔·彼得斯、海伦·奥康纳、朱英利 | 地点：阿姆斯特丹UMC、俄勒冈健康与科学大学医学院

FAQ Q: 关于阴蒂解剖学，近期有哪些发现？

FAQ A: 近期研究描绘了阴蒂的完整结构，包括耻骨下方的内部网络。朱英利医生利用CT成像创建了首张数字神经地图，揭示了广泛的分支模式及与阴蒂包皮的连接。布莱尔·彼得斯教授利用接受性别肯定手术的跨性别男性组织，识别出超过1万个神经末梢，远超此前估计。