Suspensory ligament of clitoris
{{Short description|Fibrous band anchoring the clitoris to the pubic symphysis}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Suspensory ligament of clitoris
| Latin = ligamentum suspensorium clitoridis and penic
| Image = Female erectile organs.png
| Caption = Suspensory ligament of clitoris located at 1
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The suspensory ligament of the clitoris is a fibrous band at the deep fascial level that extends from the pubic symphysis to the deep fascia of the clitoris, anchoring the clitoris to the pubic symphysis.{{cite book |title=Stedman's Medical Dictionary |chapter=Suspensory ligament of clitoris |editor-last=Lathrop Stedman |editor-first=Thomas |edition=28th |year=2006 |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Philadelphia |isbn=978-0781764506 |oclc=61162300 |access-date=September 25, 2012 |chapter-url=http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=49781}} By virtue of this connection, the pubic symphysis supports the clitoris.
The suspensory ligament of the clitoris consistently displays two components: a superficial fibro-fatty structure extending from a broad base within the mons pubis to converge on the body of the clitoris and extending into the labia majora, and a deep component with a narrow origin on the symphysis pubis extending to the body and the bulbs of the clitoris.{{cite journal|pmid=11111889 | doi=10.1002/1098-2353(2000)13:6<397::AID-CA1>3.0.CO;2-2 | volume=13 | title=The suspensory ligament of the clitoris: connective tissue supports of the erectile tissues of the female urogenital region | year=2000 | journal=Clin Anat | pages=397–403 | last1 = Rees | first1 = MA | last2 = O'Connell | first2 = HE | last3 = Plenter | first3 = RJ | last4 = Hutson | first4 = JM| issue=6 | s2cid=26239584 }}
Its form and position differ from those of the suspensory ligament of the penis. During sexual arousal, the ligament shortens and swells. This pulls the clitoral shaft in such a way that the glans appears to retract beneath the clitoral hood.