Clitorophallus is a term used to refer to the

penis A penis (; : penises or penes) is a sex organ through which male and hermaphrodite animals expel semen during copulation (zoology), copulation, and through which male placental mammals and marsupials also Urination, urinate. The term ''pen ...

clitoris In amniotes, the clitoris ( or ; : clitorises or clitorides) is a female sex organ. In humans, it is the vulva's most erogenous zone, erogenous area and generally the primary anatomical source of female Human sexuality, sexual pleasure. Th ...

. It is typically used when the clitorophallus is of a size where it is not clear as to whether it is a penis or a clitoris ( ambiguous genitalia). Often it is a matter of size that leads people to differentiate it as a penis or a clitoris, though placement of the urethral meatus may also play a part. During sexual development of an embryo, the clitorophallus is typically referred to as the "

genital tubercle A genital tubercle, phallic tubercle, or clitorophallic structure is a body of tissue present in the development of the reproductive system of amniotes. It forms in the ventral, caudal region of mammalian embryos of both sexes, and eventually ...

". The stages of development between male and female embryos are identical until around the 9th week post-fertilization, thus the clitorophallus is not distinguishable as a penis or a clitoris. The position of the urethra is also likely to vary (see

Hypospadias Hypospadias is a common malformation in fetal development of the penis in which the urethra does not open from its usual location on the head of the penis. It is the second-most common birth defect of the male reproductive system, affecting about ...

and

Epispadias Epispadias is a birth defect in which the urethra fails to fully develop, resulting in urine leaving the body from an abnormal site. In males, this may be an opening on the upper aspect of the penis, and in females when the urethra develops too ...

). These occasions may occur when someone is

intersex Intersex people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binar ...

, which is also referred to as "

disorders of sex development Disorders of sex development (DSDs), also known as differences in sex development, variations in sex characteristics (VSC), sexual anomalies, or sexual abnormalities, are congenital conditions affecting the reproductive system, in which developme ...

" or "DSD". The term may also be used when referring to the phallus of a

transsexual A transsexual person is someone who experiences a gender identity that is inconsistent with their assigned sex, and desires to permanently transition to the sex or gender with which they identify, usually seeking medical assistance (incl ...

, and not limited to humans. In certain contexts, the term may appear as "clitorophallic". The terms "clitoropenis" or "clitoropenile" have also been used for the same purposes.

References

{{reflist Sex organs Congenital disorders of genital organs Intersex variations