Peer-reviewed article
Anatomical study of the clitoris and its implications on female genital mutilation and surgical repair.
Blayney F, Camuzard O, Klein A, Perchenet AS, Bertrand B et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This anatomical study examined the structure and positioning of clitoral nerves and blood vessels in seven cadavers to understand how to surgically repair damage from female genital mutilation. The researchers measured the size and length of key anatomical structures and tested how much the clitoral tissue could be repositioned during reconstruction surgery. The findings provide technical details to guide surgical repair procedures that aim to restore both the appearance and function of the clitoris after mutilation.
Key points
- The dorsal nerve of the clitoris measured 1.9 ± 0.3 mm in width and the dorsal artery measured 0.9 ± 0.2 mm
- The total length of the dorsal neurovascular bundles was 6.6 cm (± 0.4)
- Sectioning the suspensory ligament allowed mean forward mobility of 2.7 cm (± 0.2)
- Extensive dissection of neurovascular bundles allowed greater mobility of 3.4 ± 0.2 cm
- The study aims to restore both anatomic position and clitoral function in reconstruction surgery
Limitations
This is a cadaver-based anatomical study that does not evaluate surgical outcomes or functional restoration in actual patients who have undergone FGM or repair procedures. The findings describe technical parameters but cannot demonstrate whether surgical repair actually restores sensation or sexual function.
Abstract
Background Worldwide, 200 million girls and women have been subjected to female genital mutilation. To restore the clitoral function and vulvar anatomy, clitoral repair has been performed since the 2000s. Nevertheless, there is a lack of precise and comprehensive data on the clitoral anatomy during surgical repair. This study aimed to precisely describe the terminal anatomies of the dorsal nerve and artery of the clitoris, and the clitoral neurovascular flap advancement for reconstruction in patients with female genital mutilation. Methods This study was performed on seven fresh female cadavers. The site of origin, diameter, length, and trajectory of each nerve and artery were recorded. The clitoral neurovascular flap advancement was measured after a midline transection of the suspensory ligament was performed and after extensive liberation of the dorsal bundles at their emergence from the pubic rami. Results At the distal point of the clitoral body, the width of the dorsal nerve and artery was 1.9 ± 0.3 mm and 0.9 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. The total length of the dorsal bundles was 6.6 cm (± 0.4). The midpart of the suspensory ligament was sectioned, which allowed a mean anteroposterior mobility of 2.7 cm (± 0.2). Extensive dissection of the neurovascular bundles up to their point of emergence from the suspensory ligament allowed a mean mobility of 3.4 ± 0.2 cm. Conclusion We described the anatomical characteristics of the dorsal nerve and artery of the clitoris and the mobility of the clitoral neurovascular flap for reconstruction post clitoridectomy. This was done to restore the anatomic position of the glans clitoris while preserving and potentially restoring clitoral function in patients with female genital mutilation.