# Does the clitoris have a subalbugineal layer/full erection capacity?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 30, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440 "2015-08-30T22:46:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![protoboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440/1 "2015-08-30T22:46:09Z")

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This French study by Di Marino and Lepidi claims it does, however I had trouble finding anyone who sourced their work, so I’m not sure if it’s peer reviewed.

> **[Anatomic Study of the Clitoris and the Bulbo-Clitoral Organ](https://books.google.com/books?id=wKMpBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=%22tunica%22%2Bclitoris%2B%22venous%2Bplexus%22&source=bl&ots=TIHQ4434AI&sig=H1LM3l6Xt2yaC7yPpRjkW7xHoCc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDQQ6AEwBWoVChMIn8Gq2vHJxwIVwSuICh3Itg0R#v=onepage&q=%22tunica%22%20clitoris%20%22venous%20plexus%22&f=false)**
>
> This eagerly awaited book offers a unique, comprehensive scientific study of the anatomy of the organ of female sexual pleasure. The authors use macroscopic and microscopic research to guide the reader from the glans, the visible part of the...

The current thought is that the clitoris does not get fully erect in a way a penis does, but they claim to have found the opposite and have the pictures to prove it. I know nothing about interpreting histology so I can’t say if their pics back up their claims or not.

I will say I’ve seen photos of metoidoplasties (don’t ask, I was just curious one day 😃 ) and while they definitely look penis-like, they weren’t exactly totally convincing either.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440/2 "2015-08-31T01:31:53Z")

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If I’m reading it right, the claim rests on Figure 6.4, which was not included in the preview. So, can’t tell.

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**Author:** ![protoboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440/3 "2015-08-31T06:16:28Z")

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> [@Nametag](#):
>
> If I’m reading it right, the claim rests on Figure 6.4, which was not included in the preview. So, can’t tell.

It’s there, just a few pages down.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440/4 "2015-09-04T21:09:45Z")

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Pages 61-62 are skipped in the preview, and the figures skip from 6.3 to 6.5.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-clitoris-have-a-subalbugineal-layer-full-erection-capacity/729440/5 "2015-09-05T01:59:18Z")

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Eh, it’s not like you were reading it for the pictures, anyway, right?