Suspensory ligament of clitoris

Suspensory ligament of 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 [edit on Wikidata]

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.

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.

References

^ 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.