The suspensory ligament of the clitoris is a fibrous band at the deep fascial level that extends from the pubic symphysis to the deep fascia of the clitoris, anchoring the clitoris to the pubic symphysis.[1] By virtue of this connection, the pubic symphysis supports the clitoris.
| Suspensory ligament of clitoris | |
|---|---|
 Suspensory ligament of clitoris located at 1 | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ligamentum suspensorium clitoridis and penic |
| TA98 | A04.5.02.019F |
| TA2 | 3572 |
| FMA | 21861 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The suspensory ligament of the clitoris consistently displays two components: a superficial fibro-fatty structure extending from a broad base within the mons pubis to converge on the body of the clitoris and extending into the labia majora, and a deep component with a narrow origin on the symphysis pubis extending to the body and the bulbs of the clitoris.[2]
Its form and position differ from those of the suspensory ligament of the penis. During sexual arousal, the ligament shortens and swells. This pulls the clitoral shaft in such a way that the glans appears to retract beneath the clitoral hood.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Lathrop Stedman, Thomas, ed. (2006). "Suspensory ligament of clitoris". Stedman's Medical Dictionary (28th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0781764506. OCLC 61162300. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
- ^ Rees, MA; O'Connell, HE; Plenter, RJ; Hutson, JM (2000). "The suspensory ligament of the clitoris: connective tissue supports of the erectile tissues of the female urogenital region". Clin Anat. 13 (6): 397–403. doi:10.1002/1098-2353(2000)13:6<397::AID-CA1>3.0.CO;2-2. PMID 11111889. S2CID 26239584.