Yes, women get erections--it happens with their clitoris.
The confusion is all about what we name things: a penis is analogous to the vulva, since both of these structures are collections of genital parts.
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet;
Erectile function is specifically related the corpus cavernosa inside of a male penis, which fills with blood for purposes of either oxygenation or erection. Erectile function in women happens in exactly the same structure--16th century European anatomists simply named the structures differently: male = corpus cavernosa vs. female = clitoris.
There are slight structural differences between a male corpus cavernosa/clitoris and a female clitoris:
- The male clitoris has a thicker outer shell (tunica albuginea).
- The female clitoris has a thinner outer shell.
The male clitoris has a thicker shell (tunic albuginea (al-bue-GIN-e-a)) which more effectively holds blood inside the caverns. This means that the male clitoris, once engorged (filled with blood) holds the erection longer. This hard shell presses against the outflow spigot/veins and traps the blood inside more easily. Because of the thinner shell, blood can flow out more easily from the female clitoris. Functionally, more consistent direct stimulation is necessary to maintain female erections.
- The female clitoris is approximately 4 inches long when measured from the base of the clitoral legs (near the vaginal opening) to the clitoral tip.
- The male clitoris is approximately 5 inches long when measured from the base of the clitoral legs to the clitoral tip.
- The male clitoris is situated further away from the pelvic bones than the female clitoris.
- The female clitoris has more nerve endings at the very tip (head) because the female clitoris doesn't expand as it does in the male, so the nerve endings don't spread out as they do in the male.
- One can directly touch a female clitoris when the clitoral hood is held back.
- One CANNOT directly touch a male clitoris because it is completely surrounded by the penis.
So, pretty far from Mars and Venus, it appears that men and women were both born on earth.
Take Care.
Dr. Myrtle
