| Vestibular bulbs | |
|---|---|
 The internal and external anatomy of the human clitoris, as well as the urethral and vaginal openings. The clitoral hood and labia minora are simply indicated as lines (uncolored). | |
| Details | |
| Part of | Clitoris |
| Artery | Artery of bulb of vestibule |
| Vein | Vein of bulb of vestibule |
| Lymph | Superficial inguinal lymph nodes |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | bulbus vestibuli, bulbus clitoridis |
| TA98 | A09.2.01.013 |
| TA2 | 3560 |
| FMA | 20199 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
In female anatomy, thevestibular bulbs,bulbs of the vestibule orclitoral bulbs are two elongated masses oferectile tissue typically described as being situated on either side of thevaginal 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 theclitoris than to thevestibule.[1] They constitute theroot of the clitoris along with thecrura.
Research indicates that the vestibular bulbs are more closely related to theclitoris than to the vestibule because of the similarity of thetrabecular 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 duringsexual arousal.[1] 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.[1]
The vestibular bulbs are homologous to thebulb of penis of the male and consist of two elongated masses of erectile tissue.[2] Their posterior ends are expanded and are in contact with thegreater vestibular glands; their anterior ends form theinfra-corporeal residual spongy part (RSP), which are tapered and joined to one another (the commissure of the bulbs) by the pars intermedia; their deep surfaces are in contact with the inferior fascia of theurogenital diaphragm; superficially, they are covered by thebulbospongiosus. The residual spongy part is a strand of erectile tissue that runs ventrally across the externalclitoral body and ends as theglans clitoridis.[3][4][5]
During the response tosexual arousal, the bulbs fill with blood, which then becomes trapped, causingerection. As the clitoral bulbs fill with blood, they tightly cuff the vaginal opening, causing thevulva to expand outward. This puts pressure on nearby structures that include thecorpora cavernosa andcrura, inducing pleasure.
The blood inside the bulb's erectile tissue is released to the circulatory system by the spasms oforgasm, but if orgasm does not occur, the blood will exit the bulbs over several hours.[6]
This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 1266 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
