How many nerves are in the Clitoris?
- Anita Brown-Major
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
The human fingertip has approximately 3,000 nerve endings, allowing us to detect texture, temperature, and pressure with incredible precision. These nerve endings make fine motor skills like playing an instrument or typing possible. The human penis, long studied in medical research, has around 7,700 nerve endings.
So, how many nerve endings does the human clitoris have?
Reputable medical sources such as the Cleveland clinic echo a commonly quoted figure of 8000 – a number which happens to come from outdated studies on animals.
Until 2023, no research had been conducted to quantify the number of nerves in the human clitoris.
Where did this data come from?
In a groundbreaking 2023 study, researchers Dr. Maria Uloko, Dr. Erika P. Isabey, and Dr. Blair R. Peters revealed that the human clitoris contains an average of 10,280 nerve endings—far exceeding the long-quoted number and surpassing even the fingertip and penis.
The methodology of this study is one of the most revolutionary aspects of this research. Rather than relying on cadavers (as is common in anatomical studies), the nerve samples were generously donated by transmasculine patients undergoing gender-affirming surgery.
During phalloplasty (the surgical construction of a phallus), only one of the two dorsal nerves that innervate the clitoris is needed for the procedure. This meant that one could be donated from each patient—allowing researchers to analyse and accurately count the number of nerve endings. This study not only advances medical knowledge but also highlights the invaluable contributions of trans patients to science—work that benefits everyone cis individuals and trans individuals alike.
Why Is This Important?
Understanding the true complexity of clitoral innervation is a major step forward in sexual health, medicine, and surgery. Here’s why this study is so important:
Medical Advances: With precise knowledge of nerve distribution, surgeons can improve reconstructive procedures for trauma, injury, and gender-affirming care.
Sexual Health Education: The clitoris plays a central role in sexual pleasure, yet has been historically overlooked in medical research and sexuality education. This study reinforces the urgent need for better representation of the clitoris in textbooks, research, and public discourse.
REFERENCES:
Uloko M, Isabey EP & Peters BR (2023). How many nerve fibers innervate the human glans clitoris: a histomorphometric evaluation of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris. The Journal of Sexual Medicine 20, 247–252.
Cleveland Clinic (2022). Clitoris: Anatomy, Location, Purpose & Conditions. [online] Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22823-clitoris.
Ferrin, P., Uloko, M. and Peters, B. (2024). (067) How Many Nerve Fibers Innervate the Human Glans Penis: A Histomorphometric Analysis of the Human Dorsal Nerve of the Penis. Journal of Sexual Medicine, [online] 21(Supplement_1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae001.063.