Animal clitoris

Animal Clitoris

The clitoris is a female sexual organ present in mammals, ostriches and a limited number of other animals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is near the front junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra. Unlike the penis, the male homologue (equivalent) to the clitoris, it usually does not contain the distal portion (or opening) of the urethra and is therefore not used for urination.

Anatomy

The clitoris is an organ which is dedicated to producing sexual pleasure. It has no other known function. The clitoris is the human female's most sensitive erogenous zone and generally the primary anatomical source of human female sexual pleasure. In humans and other mammals, it develops from an outgrowth in the embryo called the genital tubercle. Initially undifferentiated, the tubercle develops into either a penis or a clitoris, depending on the presence or absence of the protein tdf, which is codified by a single gene on the Y chromosome. The clitoris is a complex structure, and its size and sensitivity can vary.

Animal Clitoris

In non-human animals, the clitoris offers a similar function. For instance, female spotted hyenas have a pseudo-penis that is basically an enlarged clitoris. The clitoris in animals such as the bonobo and the chimpanzee is larger than in humans.

See Also

• Female genitalia
• Sexual reproduction
• Mammalian reproduction