Dorsal nerve of the clitoris explained

Dorsal nerve of clitoris
Latin:	nervus dorsalis clitoridis
Innervates:	Clitoris
Branchfrom:	Pudendal nerve

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]

It travels from below the inferior pubic ramus^[4] to the suspensory ligament of the clitoris. At its thickest, the DNC is 2mm 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

External links

• - "The Female Perineum: The Deep Perineal Pouch"
• http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/figs/l41/410407.htm

Notes and References

1. Book: de Groat. William C.. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444632470000055. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Yoshimura. Naoki. Elsevier. 2015. 978-0-444-63247-0. 130. 65. en. 5 - Anatomy and physiology of the lower urinary tract. 10.1016/B978-0-444-63247-0.00005-5. 26003239 . 0072-9752.
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. en. 30. 3. 412–416. 10.1002/nau.20996. 21298720. 22501531. 0733-2467.
3. Yucel. S. De Souza A. Jr. Baskin. LS. Neuroanatomy of the human female lower urogenital tract.. The Journal of Urology. July 2004. 172. 1. 191–5. 10.1097/01.ju.0000128704.51870.87. 15201770.
4. C . Achtari . BJ . McKenzie . R . Hiscock . A . Rosamilia . L . Schierlitz . CA . Briggs . PL . Dwyer . Anatomical study of the obturator foramen and dorsal nerve of the clitoris and their relationship to minimally invasive slings . International Urogynecology Journal . June 2006 . 17 . 4 . 330–334 . 10.1007/s00192-005-0004-7 . 16211316 . 21070405 .
5. van der Walt . Sonè . van Wijk . Frans J . Abdool . Zeelha . Oettlé . Anna C . The dorsal nerve of the clitoris in relation to urinary incontinence sling procedures . International Urogynecological Journal . January 2017 . 28 . 1 . 119–123 . 10.1007/s00192-016-3086-5. 27549222 . 2263/57007 . 12301185 . free .
6. Sedý . Jiri . Nanka . Ondrej . Belisová . Marta . Walro . Jon M . Jarolím . Ladislav . Sulcus nervi dorsalis penis/clitoridis: anatomic structure and clinical significance . . November 2006 . 50 . 5 . 1079–1085 . 10.1016/j.eururo.2006.02.024. 16519989 .