The clitoris is located at the top of the vulva, right where the inner lips meet. It sits above the urethral opening and is partially or fully covered by a small fold of skin called the clitoral hood. Finding it is straightforward once you know the landmarks, but natural variation in hood size and tissue thickness means it looks and feels a little different on everyone.
Where Exactly It Sits
If you look at the vulva from front to back, the clitoris is the first major structure you encounter. The two inner lips (labia minora) extend upward and join together at the very top of the vulva, forming a small hood of skin. Underneath that hood is the clitoral glans, a small, rounded nub roughly the size of a pea in its unaroused state. Directly below the clitoris is the urethral opening, and below that is the vaginal opening. Think of it as a vertical line: clitoris at the top, urethra in the middle, vagina lower down.
The glans is the external, visible portion, but it represents only a fraction of the full organ. The clitoris extends several centimeters internally, with two legs (called crura) that run along either side of the vaginal canal and two bulbs of erectile tissue beneath the inner lips. This internal structure is why pressure applied to the surrounding area, not just the glans itself, can also feel pleasurable.
How to Find It by Touch and Sight
A handheld mirror and good lighting make the first visual search much easier. Sit comfortably with your back supported by pillows, knees bent and apart, and hold or prop the mirror so you can see your vulva clearly. Use your fingers to gently separate the outer and inner lips. At the top, where the inner lips converge, you’ll see or feel a small mound beneath the hood of skin. That’s the clitoral glans.
If you can’t spot it visually right away, try touch instead. Place a fingertip at the very top of the vulva, where the inner lips meet, and press gently. You’ll feel a small, firm, rounded structure beneath the skin. It’s noticeably more sensitive than the surrounding tissue. Gently pulling the hood upward or back can expose more of the glans and make it easier to see.
Why It Might Be Harder to Spot
Clitoral hoods vary significantly from person to person, just like labia do. Some hoods are small and sit close to the glans, leaving it partly exposed at all times. Others are larger or made of thicker tissue, covering the glans more completely. A larger hood doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It just means you may need to retract the skin gently to see or directly touch the glans underneath.
In some cases, the hood can develop adhesions, where the skin sticks to the glans rather than moving freely over it. If you notice that the hood doesn’t retract at all, or if retraction causes pain, that’s worth mentioning to a healthcare provider. Otherwise, variation in coverage and visibility is completely normal.
What It Feels Like During Arousal
When you’re aroused, blood flows into the erectile tissue of the clitoris, causing it to swell and become firmer. This is essentially the same process as a penile erection. The swelling makes the glans larger and often more prominent, which means the clitoris is generally easier to find during arousal than when you’re not stimulated. After arousal subsides, it returns to its resting size.
The clitoris contains over 10,000 nerve fibers in the dorsal nerve alone, according to research from Oregon Health & Science University. That count is about 20% higher than the commonly cited figure of 8,000, which was actually derived from animal studies rather than human tissue. Additional smaller nerves bring the total even higher. This extraordinary nerve density is why even light, indirect touch through the hood can produce strong sensation, and why direct contact with the glans feels intensely sensitive for many people.
Tips for Comfortable Exploration
If direct touch on the glans feels too intense, try stimulating through the hood rather than retracting it. Many people find indirect pressure more comfortable, especially at first. Circular motions, side-to-side movement, or gentle tapping on or around the hood are all common approaches. Lubricant can reduce friction and make the sensation smoother.
Experimenting with pressure matters as much as location. Some people prefer very light touch on the glans itself, while others prefer firmer pressure applied to the surrounding area, including the shaft that runs just beneath the skin above the glans. Because the internal structure of the clitoris wraps around the vaginal canal, pressure on the outer lips or the area between the vaginal opening and the clitoris can also stimulate the underlying tissue.
There’s no single correct technique. The density of nerve endings means small changes in position, pressure, or rhythm can produce very different sensations. Taking time to explore without a specific goal in mind is one of the most reliable ways to learn what feels good for your body.