Clitoral hood

Clitoral hood
Outer anatomy of clitoris.
A photograph of the human vulva, with the clitoris obscured by the clitoral hood and folds of the labia minora.
Latin	preputium clitoridis

In female human anatomy, the clitoral hood, (also called preputium clitoridis and clitoral prepuce), is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoral glans. It develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin (equally called prepuce) in male genitals.

Variation

Shows the sub-areas of the clitoris. Areas include clitoral glans, body, crura. Also shows vestibular bulbs and corpus cavernosa.

This is a protective hood of skin that covers the clitoral glans. There is no standard size or shape for the hood. Some women have large clitoral hoods that completely cover the clitoral glans. Some of these can be retracted to expose the clitoral glans; others do not retract. Other women have smaller hoods that do not cover the full length of the clitoral glans, leaving the clitoral glans exposed all the time. As in the male, sticky bands of tissue called adhesions can form between the hood and the glans, these stick the hood onto the glans so the hood cannot be pulled back to expose the glans.

Modifications

In most of the world, modifications are uncommon. In some African cultures, female genital cutting is practiced on young girls to suppress sexual pleasure. One possible modification that exists for the opposite reason is to have the hood pierced and insert jewellery, both for adornment and physical pleasure. Though much less common, other women opt to have the hood surgically trimmed or removed so as to permanently expose part or all of the clitoral head. Such a procedure is akin to male circumcision and is sometimes known as female circumcision, a term that is often confused with the practice of female genital cutting which usually removes extensive amounts of tissue, including the entire exposed part of the clitoris. Similar procedures were once rarely performed in "civilized" countries such as the United States as well, to discourage masturbation, but by the 1960s this destructive practice was recognized as abusive and discontinued.

Stimulation

Click here to see a video showing clitoris becoming engorged with blood

Women with larger hoods can often masturbate by working the hood to and fro over the clitoral glans. Women with more compact structures tend to rub the clitoral glans and hood together as one item. Sometimes the glans clitoris is too sensitive to be rubbed with the hood fully pulled back.
During sexual stimulation the hood protects the clitoral glans, from coming into contact with the male penis. The clitoral glans must be lubricated to allow the hood to slide over it effortlessly during sexual stimulation, and this lubrication is normally and naturally provided by sebum. If a woman's clitoral glans isn't lubricated the hood may not caress it during sexual stimulation, or she experiences pain rather than pleasure, as it may feel like sandpaper is being rubbed against her clitoral glans even when the lightest touch is applied. ^[1]

Gallery

Vulva anatomy

Stages in the development of the external sexual organs in the male and female.

See also

• female genitals
• Frenulum clitoridis (or crus glandis clitoridis): a frenulum surrounding the clitoris
• Female circumcision, removal of the clitoral hood (also a misnomer for forms of FGM)

References

External links

• SUNY Labs 41:02-0202 - "The Female Perineum: The Vulva"