Dictionary:

Bartholin's gland

  (bär'tl-ĭnz, -thə-lĭnz)

Either of two small compound racemose glands located on either side of the vaginal orifice that secrete a lubricating mucus and are homologous to the bulbourethral glands in the male.

[After Caspar Bartholin (1585–1629), Danish physician.]

The major vestibular glands; two small glands, one in each wall of the vaginal vestibule of the cow, cat and occasionally the sheep that secrete mucus; their ducts open on either side of the urethral orifice. They secrete mucus, providing lubrication for coitus and for the passage of the fetus at birth. When cystic in the cow they are visible through the mucosa and are about 1 inch long and 0.5 inch wide. They are homologs of the bulbourethral glands in the male. Called also Tiedmann's or Duverney's gland, vulvovaginal gland.

Bartholin's gland
Genital organs of female. 1 - vaginal opening 2 - Bartholin's glands 3 - bulbus vestibuli 4 - vagina 5 - uterus (womb) 6 - ovaries 7 - Fallopian tubes 8 - bladder 9 - clitoris
Latin	glandula vestibularis major
Gray's	subject #270 1266
Artery	external pudendal artery[1]
Nerve	ilioinguinal nerve [1]
Lymph	superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Precursor	Urogenital sinus
MeSH	Bartholin's+Glands
Dorlands/Elsevier	g_06/12392850

The Bartholin's glands (also called Bartholin glands or greater vestibular glands) are two glands located slightly below and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina in women. They secrete mucus to provide lubrication.^[2][3]

Bartholin's glands are homologous to Cowper's glands in males. However, while Bartholin's glands are located in the superficial perineal pouch, Cowper's glands are located in the deep perineal pouch.

Bartholin's Gland

Eponym

They were first described in the 17th century, by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger (1655-1738). Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Elder (1585 - 1629).^[4][5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://summit.stanford.edu/ourwork/PROJECTS/LUCY/lucywebsite/vestib_gl.html
2. ^ Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle, University of Arkansas Medical School
3. ^ Chrétien, F.C.; Berthou J. (Sept. 18, 2006). "Crystallographic investigation of the dried exudate of the major vestibular (Bartholin's) glands in women.". Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.. PMID 16987591. Retrieved on 2007-07-23. 
4. ^ C. C. Gillispie (ed.): Dictionary of Scientific Biography, New York 1970. See the article on Thomas Bartholin.
5. ^ synd/3320 at Who Named It

See also

• Bartholin's cyst
• Skene's glands
• List of homologues of the human reproductive system

External links

• SUNY Labs 41:11-0200 - "The Female Perineum: Muscles of the Superficial Perineal Pouch"
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9243
• SUNY Anatomy Image 9694 - opening
• greater+vestibular+gland at eMedicine Dictionary

Female reproductive system
Ovaries/Oogenesis	Germinal epithelium • Tunica albuginea • cortex (Cumulus oophorus, Stroma) • Medulla
Follicles/Folliculogenesis	corpus (hemorrhagicum, luteum, albicans) • Theca folliculi (externa, interna) • Follicular antrum (Follicular fluid) • Corona radiata • Zona pellucida • Membrana granulosa (Granulosa cells)
Ligaments	Proper • Suspensory • Round • Broad (Mesovarium, Mesosalpinx, Mesometrium) • Cardinal
Fallopian tubes	Isthmus • Ampulla • Infundibulum • Fimbria
Uterus	cervix/neck (External orifice, Canal of the cervix, Internal orifice) • corpus/body (Cavity of the body, Fundus) • layers (Endometrium, Myometrium, Perimetrium)
Vulva/mons pubis	Labium (Labial commissures, Frenulum labiorum pudendi, Labia majora, Cleft of venus, Labia minora, Vulval vestibule, interlabial sulci) Clitoris (Clitoral hood, Clitoral glans, Frenulum clitoridis, Clitoral crura, Corpus cavernosa, Vestibular bulbs) Vagina (Bartholin's glands, Bartholin's ducts, Skene's glands, Skene's ducts, Fossa of vestibule of vagina, Vaginal fornix, Hymen)
Breast	Mammary glands • Nipple • Areola • Lactiferous duct
Other	G-spot • Urethral sponge

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