Glans

The glans (literally, Latin for acorn) is a structure internally composed of corpus spongiosum in males or of corpus cavernosa and vestibular tissue in females that is located at the tip of homologous genital structures involved in sexual arousal.

The exterior structure of the glans consists of mucous membrane, which is usually covered by foreskin or clitoral hood in naturally developed genitalia. This covering, called the prepuce, is normally retractable in adulthood.

The glans naturally joins with the inner labia, and the frenulum of the penis or clitoris. In non-technical or sexual discussions, often the word "clitoris" refers to the external glans alone, excluding the prepuce, frenulum, and internal body of the clitoris.

In males the glans is known as the glans penis, while in females the glans is known as the glans clitoris.

In females, the clitoris is above the urethra. It serves no function other than sexual arousal. The glans of the clitoris is the most highly innervated part. Female circumcision involves the removal of the prepuce (covering the glans) or even more drastic, the whole clitoris and labia minora. It is now widely discouraged or illegal but is still practised in some rural areas because it is thought to inhibit sexual arousal.