Os clitoridis

The structure is more evolutionarily labile than the baculum, exhibiting both more inherent variability and more gains and losses over time,[4] which has been interpreted as evidence for its non-functionality.

[9] As with the baculum, this wide distribution suggests a primitive character that has been lost in some phylogenetic branches of the class Mammalia.

The size is often very small:[a] The os clitoridis is often present, or even prominent, during the embryonic or immature phase, and then decreases with age.

[15] The os clitoridis would be an equivalent, without evolutionary function, of the baculum, persisting or disappearing during sexual differentiation under hormonal influence.

Experiments with treatment of the spleen with testosterone, led to a persistence or increase in the size of the os clitoridis.