Perineal sponge
Encyclopedia
The perineal sponge is a spongy cushion of tissue
and blood vessels, found in the lower genital area of women. It sits between the vagina
and rectum
and is internal to the perineum
and perineal body
.
; during arousal
, it becomes swollen with blood
compressing the outer third of the vagina along with the vestibular bulbs
and urethral sponge
thereby creating a tighter fit and additional stimulation for the penis.
s, and can, therefore, be stimulated through the back wall of the vagina
or the top wall of the rectum. Some women who claim to experience orgasm
during anal stimulation may be having their perineal sponge stimulated. These orgasms are often accompanied by ejaculation
and are said to feel similar to orgasms that result from G-spot
stimulation
Biological tissue
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
and blood vessels, found in the lower genital area of women. It sits between the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
and rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
and is internal to the perineum
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
and perineal body
Perineal body
The perineal body is a pyramidal fibromuscular mass in the middle line of the perineum at the junction between the urogenital triangle and the anal triangle . It is found in both males and females...
.
Functions
The perineal sponge is composed of erectile tissueErectile tissue
Erectile tissue is tissue in the body that can become erect, usually by becoming engorged with blood.-Erectile tissue in the clitoris and penis:...
; during arousal
Sexual arousal
Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are called erotic stimuli, or colloquially known as turn-ons. There are many potential stimuli, both physical or mental, which can cause...
, it becomes swollen with blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
compressing the outer third of the vagina along with the vestibular bulbs
Vestibular bulbs
The vestibular bulbs, also known as the clitoral bulbs, are aggregations of erectile tissue that are an internal part of the clitoris. They can also be found throughout the vestibule: next to the clitoral body, clitoral crura, urethra, urethral sponge, and vagina.They are to the left and right of...
and urethral sponge
Urethral sponge
The urethral sponge is a spongy cushion of tissue, found in the lower genital area of women, that sits against both the pubic bone and vaginal wall, and surrounds the urethra.-Functions:...
thereby creating a tighter fit and additional stimulation for the penis.
Sexual stimulation
The perineal sponge is erogenous tissue encompassing a large number of nerve endingNerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
s, and can, therefore, be stimulated through the back wall of the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
or the top wall of the rectum. Some women who claim to experience orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
during anal stimulation may be having their perineal sponge stimulated. These orgasms are often accompanied by ejaculation
Female ejaculation
Female ejaculation refers to the expulsion of noticeable amounts of clear fluid by human females from the paraurethral ducts through and around the urethra during or before an orgasm...
and are said to feel similar to orgasms that result from G-spot
G-spot
The Gräfenberg Spot, often called the G-Spot, is a bean-shaped area of the vagina. Many women report that it is an erogenous zone which, when stimulated, can lead to strong sexual arousal, powerful orgasms and female ejaculation...
stimulation