We often only equate erectile tissue with just the penis but it also exists in the clitoris. Erectile tissues are numerous vascular spaces that become engorged with blood. For females, erectile tissue can be found in the clitoris, as well as in the bulbs of the vestibule. These two tissues have the same function as the tissues in a male penis. They fill with blood to cause a clitoral erection. They also cause the vagina opening (the vulva) to swell.
The penis and the clitoris come from the same tissue
A genital tubercle or phallic tubercle is a body of tissue that develops into a penis or a clitoris at around 4 weeks and can be distinguished as a penis or a clitoris by about 9 weeks gestation. The clitoris forms from the same tissues that become the glans and upper shaft of the penis, and this shared embryonic origin. If exposed to testosterone, the genital tubercle elongates to form the penis. Without the testosterone it remains a clitoris. In the absence of testosterone, the genital tubercle allows for formation of the clitoris; the initially rapid growth of the phallus gradually slows and the clitoris is formed. The clitoris is a complex structure, and its size and sensitivity can vary. The glans (head) of the human clitoris is roughly the size and shape of a pea but can vary, and is estimated to have more than 8,000 sensory nerve endings.
This information is so important because over stimulating the head of the clitoris can become painful, irritating and is one reason why some women are not able to achieve orgasm. We can relate this to a mans penis where only the head of the penis gets stimulated, and not the shaft. Same goes for a woman's clitoris, the shaft of her clitoris is located under the skin that goes inside the vagina and is part of what is known as the G-spot. Just focusing on the head of the clitoris leaves out the shaft and legs of the clitoris when erect and filled with blood can be extremely arousing to stimulate. Using a tongue, fingers, penis, sex toy, to stimulate the shaft of the clitoris located inside the vagina can be equally arousing when the clitoris is erect, this area is about an inch inside known as the G-spot. This can be done with a slight pressing up in the area under the clitoris inside the vagina to indirectly massage the clitoral shaft. As a woman gets aroused the inner legs of the clitoris located inside the vagina will also fill with blood and become erect and be pleasurable with deeper penetration.
