Dorsal_nerve_of_clitoris
The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is a nerve in females that branches off the pudendal nerve[1] to innervate the clitoris. The nerve is important for female sexual pleasure,[2] and it may play a role in clitoral erections.[3]
It travels from below the inferior pubic ramus[4] to the suspensory ligament of the clitoris. At its thickest, the DNC is 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter, visible to the naked eye during dissection.[2] The DNC splits into two nerve branches on either side of the midline, closely following the crura of the clitoris.[3]
Some surgeries—for example, sling surgeries to treat female urinary incontinence—can damage the DNC, causing a loss of sensation in the clitoris. Understanding the nerve is important for urologists and gynecologists who may operate on organs near the DNC.[2][4][5]
The dorsal nerve of the clitoris is analogous to the dorsal nerve of the penis in males.[6] It is a terminal branch of the pudendal nerve.[1]