Determining the course of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris

To describe the course and variation of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris (DNC) to better define its anatomy in the human adult before embarking on therapeutic strategies in this region of the body and as an aid to surgeons to help avoid iatrogenic injury to the DNC during vaginal surgical procedures.

Six human female cadavers of variable body weights were sectioned. A vertical midline incision from the base of the clitoris extending toward the direction of the umbilicus was made. The DNC was identified by dissecting out the fascia, fat, and muscles around it. The anatomy of the nerve was noted bilaterally.

Distally, the DNC pierced the perineal membrane lateral to the external urethral meatus. It traversed along the bulbospongiosus muscle before traversing posterior to the crura. The DNC reappeared, hooking over the crura to lie on the anterolateral surface of the body of the clitoris, before dividing into 2 cords and terminating short of the tip of the glans clitoris.

The results of this study have demonstrated the unique anatomy of the distal part of the DNC. Knowledge of the anatomy of the DNC, which was consistent for all the cadavers, is important so that surgeons can avoid potential iatrogenic injuries to this structure.