For a professional and safe yoni massage, it is essential to move beyond surface-level understanding and explore the internal architecture of the female body. For decades, a significant anatomical misunderstanding persisted, where the visible glans was mistaken for the entire organ. However, modern research has revealed that the clitoris is a vast, complex system that extends deep into the pelvic floor. By examining a detailed clitoral diagram, we can see that its three-dimensional structure is the foundation for effective somatic practice and the awakening of latent sensory pathways.
The Australian MRI Breakthrough
The modern history of clitoral anatomy changed in 1998 when Australian gynecologist Helen O’Connell and her team utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the organ in living subjects. Their research dismantled the old “iceberg” myth by proving that the majority of the clitoral tissue is internal. By mapping the relationships between the clitoris and surrounding pelvic organs, they provided the first accurate blueprints for what we now understand as a high-capacity erectile system capable of profound sensory response.
Mapping the Internal Components
The clitoris consists of several integrated parts that work as a single functional unit. It includes the glans (the visible head), the corpus cavernosum (the erectile bodies), the crura (the legs of the clitoris), and the vestibular bulbs. The glans is protected by the clitoral hood, a mobile fold of skin that regulates sensitivity. While the glans contains a high density of nerve endings, it represents only the tip of a much larger structure that spans between 8 to 12 centimeters in total length, and in some cases, up to 20 centimeters.
Homology and Embryonic Origins
From a biological perspective, the clitoris and the penis are homologous structures, meaning they develop from the same embryonic tissue. Both organs contain erectile tissue that engorges with blood during arousal. However, there are key structural differences; unlike the male anatomy, the clitoris does not contain the urethra. In the female body, the urethra and the spongy tissue are located slightly lower, nestled safely between the clitoral bulbs, creating a distinct pathway for both sensation and biological function.
The Clitorourethrovaginal (CUV) Complex
Recent studies by researchers such as Pierre Folde and Odile Buisson have introduced the concept of the Clitorourethrovaginal complex, or CUV-complex. This term highlights the intimate connection between the clitoris, the urethra, and the anterior wall of the vagina. These structures are so closely intertwined that stimulation of one often affects the others. In yoni massage, we treat this area as a unified sensory field, recognizing that tension in the vaginal wall can physically inhibit the erectile capacity of the clitoral system.
Exploring the Clitoral Legs (Crura)
The crura, or the “legs” of the clitoris, are located deep within the body and follow the line of the pelvic bones. While they are largely inaccessible to direct surface touch, they play a vital role in the overall experience of pelvic fullness. A skilled practitioner can find a small access point approximately one centimeter below and to the side of the glans. However, the primary way we influence the crura is indirectly, by working with the surrounding tissues and the vestibular bulbs to encourage blood flow throughout the entire complex.
The Vestibular Bulbs and Arousal
The vestibular bulbs are located just beneath the labia minora and are central to the experience of internal arousal. Unlike the crura, the bulbs are accessible for massage. In many women, these tissues remain in a “dormant” or insensitive state due to chronic pelvic tension or lack of specific stimulation. Through dedicated yoni massage, these bulbs can be “turned on,” allowing for the experience of a clitoral orgasm that does not require direct contact with the visible glans, but rather an awakening of the entire internal complex.
Correcting Common Sexological Myths
There is a frequent misconception in popular sexology that the clitoral legs “wrap around” the vagina and that their movement during intercourse is the primary source of pleasure. Anatomically, it is the vestibular bulbs, not the legs, that flank the vaginal opening and the urethra. By studying a correct clitoral diagram, we can apply massage techniques more accurately. The goal is to stimulate the bulbs to engorge, which then creates a gentle internal pressure against the vaginal walls, facilitating an integrated response.
In the figures below, the clitoris with legs deep in the body and bulbs covering the urethra and vagina is highlighted in yellow. Between the bulbs is the urethra, which ends in the bladder. Below that is the vagina, into the far end of which the cervix enters.
Visualizing the 3D Anatomy
To truly master the location of these structures, it is helpful to visualize them in three dimensions. The clitoris sits like an arch over the pelvic structures, with the legs running along the bones and the bulbs covering the pathways of the urethra and vagina. In a side view, one can see how the cervix enters the far end of the vagina, positioned below the bladder. This spatial awareness allows the practitioner to navigate the pelvic landscape with precision, ensuring that the pressure applied is always anatomically informed and respectful of the underlying organs.
In the pictures below, the clitoris is shown in green. Its legs run along the pelvic bones.
Somatic Integration of Anatomical Knowledge
Knowing the names and locations of these parts is only the first step; the ultimate goal is somatic integration. When a recipient understands that her clitoris is an expansive internal organ, her relationship with her own body often shifts from shame or confusion to curiosity and awe. This knowledge empowers the individual to inhabit their body more fully, especially when they understand how the nervous system influences their physical sensations. In the context of a session, this anatomical clarity between the giver and receiver ensures that every movement is an act of discovery, moving toward a state of complete pelvic presence and energetic flow.
