Vestibular bulb

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
Artery	artery of bulb of vestibule
Vein	vein of bulb of vestibule
Lymph	superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Identifiers
Latin	bulbus vestibuli vaginae
Dorlands /Elsevier	12200326
TA	A09.2.01.013
FMA	20199
Anatomical terminology []

In female anatomy, the vestibular bulbs or bulbs of the vestibule, are also known less commonly as the clitoral bulbs. They are located on either side of the vestibule surrounding the urethral and vaginal openings and deep to the tissues of the labia minora.

The vestibular bulbs are homologous to the bulb of penis and adjoining part of the corpus spongiosum of the male, and consist of two elongated masses of erectile tissue, placed one on either side of the vaginal orifice and united to each other in front by a narrow median band termed the pars intermedia.

Their posterior ends are expanded and are in contact with the greater vestibular glands; 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; superficially they are covered by the bulbospongiosus.

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 may put pressure on nearby structures that include the corpus cavernosum of clitoris and crus of clitoris.

The blood inside the bulb’s erectile tissue is released to the circulatory system by the spasms of orgasm, but if orgasm does not occur, the blood will exit the bulbs over several hours.

The sub-areas of the clitoris—areas include clitoral glans, body, crura. The vestibular bulbs and corpora cavernosa are also shown

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)