No, the clitoris is not a hole. It is a solid organ made of erectile tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. The clitoris has no opening and nothing passes through it. It sits at the top of the vulva, above two separate openings that are sometimes confused with it: the urethral opening (where urine exits) and the vaginal opening (below that).
What the Clitoris Actually Is
The part of the clitoris you can see from the outside is a small rounded nub called the glans, located where the inner labia meet at the top of the vulva. It is partially or fully covered by a fold of skin called the clitoral hood. The glans typically measures between 0.2 and 3.5 centimeters in length and up to 1 centimeter in width.
But the visible part is only a fraction of the full organ. Inside the body, the clitoris extends downward in a shape often compared to an upside-down wishbone. The internal structure includes a central body that branches into two legs, called crura, which run along either side of the vaginal canal. There are also two vestibular bulbs that sit beneath the labia. A 2005 MRI study led by urologist Helen O’Connell confirmed that the clitoris is a complex, three-dimensional structure that cannot be fully captured in a flat diagram.
The tissue inside the clitoris is erectile, similar to what is found in a penis. During arousal, blood flow increases and the internal structures swell, which can cause the labia to become noticeably fuller. The glans itself becomes more prominent and more sensitive as it engorges. This is the same basic mechanism behind erections in penises. Both organs develop from the same tissue in the embryo. The key structural difference is that the clitoris does not contain a urethra, meaning there is no tube or channel running through it.
Why People Confuse It With an Opening
The vulva has three distinct structures close together in a small area, which makes them easy to mix up, especially without a mirror or a clear diagram. From top to bottom, the order is: the clitoris (a solid nub at the top), the urethral opening just below it (a tiny hole where urine comes out), and the vaginal opening below that. All three sit between the inner labia, within a space roughly the size of a few centimeters.
The urethral opening is particularly easy to overlook because it is very small. Some people who feel an opening near the top of the vulva and associate it with the clitoris are likely feeling the urethral opening just beneath it. These are two entirely separate structures with different functions.
What the Clitoris Does
The clitoris is the primary source of sexual pleasure in the female body. It contains over 10,000 nerve fibers in its dorsal nerve alone, according to research from Oregon Health and Science University, and likely more when counting smaller nerves that branch throughout the organ. That concentration of nerve endings makes the glans one of the most sensitive areas of the human body.
Unlike the penis, the clitoris has no role in urination or reproduction. Its only known function is generating pleasurable sensation. During arousal, increased blood flow causes the internal tissue to swell, the glans to become more exposed, and overall sensitivity to heighten. The internal portions of the clitoris, particularly the crura and vestibular bulbs, also contribute to sensation during penetration by being compressed against surrounding tissue.
How to Locate It
If you’re trying to identify the clitoris on your own body, a hand mirror can help. Gently part the inner labia at the very top where they meet. You should see or feel a small, rounded structure underneath the clitoral hood. It may be fully visible or mostly tucked under the hood, which varies from person to person. The glans is firm to the touch, not an indentation or opening. If you move slightly lower, past the glans, you may find the tiny urethral opening, and below that, the larger vaginal opening.
The size of the visible glans varies widely. Some are as small as a few millimeters, others closer to the size of a small pea. None of this variation changes its function or sensitivity.