In female anatomy, the vestibular bulbs, bulbs of the vestibule or clitoral bulbs are two elongated masses of

erectile tissue Erectile tissue is tissue in the body with numerous vascular spaces, or cavernous tissue, that may become engorged with blood. However, tissue that is devoid of or otherwise lacking erectile tissue (such as the labia minora, the vestibule/vagina and ...

typically described as being situated on either side of the vaginal opening. They are united to each other in front by a narrow median band. Some research indicates that they do not surround the vaginal opening, and are more closely related to the clitoris than to the vestibule.

Structure

Research indicates that the vestibular bulbs are more closely related to the clitoris than to the vestibule because of the similarity of the

trabecula A trabecula (plural trabeculae, from Latin for "small beam") is a small, often microscopic, tissue element in the form of a small beam, strut or rod that supports or anchors a framework of parts within a body or organ. A trabecula generally ha ...

r and erectile tissue within the clitoris and bulbs, and the absence of trabecular tissue in other genital organs, with the erectile tissue's trabecular nature allowing engorgement and expansion during sexual arousal. Ginger et al. state that although a number of texts report that they surround the vaginal opening, this does not appear to be the case and tunica albuginea does not envelop the erectile tissue of the bulb. The vestibular bulbs are homologous to the

bulb of penis Just before each crus of the penis A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both ver ...

and the adjoining part of the

corpus spongiosum The corpus spongiosum is the mass of spongy tissue surrounding the male urethra within the penis. It is also called the corpus cavernosum urethrae in older texts. Anatomy The proximal part of the corpus spongiosum is expanded to form the ure ...

of the male and consist of two elongated masses of erectile tissue. Their posterior ends are expanded and are in contact with the

greater vestibular glands The Bartholin's glands (named after Caspar Bartholin the Younger; also called Bartholin glands or greater vestibular glands) are two pea sized compound alveolar glandsManual of Obstetrics. (3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 1-16. . located slightly posteri ...

; their anterior ends are tapered and joined to one another by the pars intermedia; their deep surfaces are in contact with the inferior fascia of the

urogenital diaphragm Older texts have asserted the existence of a urogenital diaphragm, also called the triangular ligament, which was described as a layer of the pelvis that separates the deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis, lying between the inferior fascia of ...

; superficially, they are covered by the bulbospongiosus.

Physiology

During the response to sexual arousal the bulbs fill with blood, which then becomes trapped, causing erection. As the clitoral bulbs fill with blood, they tightly cuff the vaginal opening, causing the vulva to expand outward. This puts pressure on nearby structures that include the

corpus cavernosum of clitoris The corpus cavernosum of clitoris is one of a pair of sponge-like regions of erectile tissue of the clitoris in women. It is made of a sponge-like tissue that fills with blood during clitoral erection. This is homologous to the corpus cavernosu ...

and

crus of clitoris The clitoral crura (singular: clitoral crux) are two erectile tissue structures, which together form a V-shape. ''Crus'' is a Latin word that means "leg". Each "leg" of the ''V'' converges on the clitoral body. At each divergent point is a cor ...

, inducing pleasure. The blood inside the bulb's erectile tissue is released to the circulatory system by the spasms of

orgasm Orgasm (from Greek , ; "excitement, swelling") or sexual climax is the sudden discharge of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, resulting in rhythmic, involuntary muscular contractions in the pelvic region chara ...

, but if orgasm does not occur, the blood will exit the bulbs over several hours.

Additional images

File:EdSim Clitoris anatomy.jpg, The sub-areas of the clitoris—areas include clitoral glans, body, crura. The vestibular bulbs and corpora cavernosa are also shown. File:Vulva and Clitoris 1.png, Clitoral bulbs under the labia and on both sides of the vaginal entrance

References

External links

* - "The Female Perineum: Muscles of the Superficial Perineal Pouch" * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vestibular Bulbs Mammal female reproductive system