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Bartholin's gland

 
Dictionary: Bar·tho·lin's gland   (bär'tl-ĭnz, -thə-lĭnz) pronunciation
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n. Anatomy
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.]


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Veterinary Dictionary: Bartholin's glands
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Home > Library > Animal Life > Veterinary Dictionary

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.

Wikipedia: Bartholin's gland
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Bartholin's gland
Skenes gland.jpg
Genital organs of female.
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 Bartholin gland

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 lubricate the vagina and are homologous to bulbourethral glands in males. However, while Bartholin's glands are located in the superficial perineal pouch in females, bulbourethral glands are located in the deep perineal pouch.

Contents

Function

They secrete mucus to provide vaginal lubrication.[2][3] Bartholin's glands secrete relatively minute amounts (one or two drops) of fluid just before a woman orgasms.[4] The minute droplets of fluid were once believed to be important for lubricating the vagina, but research from Masters and Johnson demonstrated that vaginal lubrication comes from deeper within the vagina.[4] The fluid may slightly moisten the labial opening of the vagina, serving to make contact with this sensitive area more comfortable for the woman.[4]

Pathology

Although unusual, it is possible for the Bartholin's glands to become irritated or infected, resulting in pain.[4] If the duct becomes obstructed, a Bartholin's cyst can develop, and a Bartholin's cyst in turn can become infected and form an abscess. Carcinoma of the gland is rare, but benign tumors and hyperplasia are even more rare.[5]

Eponym

Bartholin's glands were first described in the 17th century by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger (1655–1738).[6] Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Elder (1585–1629).[7]

Pop culture

"Bartholin's Gland" is the title of a song by the punk rock group Mr. on their EP Joseph Stalin versus the Cotton Gin.

References

  1. ^ a b Greater Vestibular (Bartholin) gland
  2. ^ "Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle". University of Arkansas Medical School. http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html. 
  3. ^ Chrétien, F.C.; Berthou J. (September 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. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Bartholin's Gland". Discovery Health. http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html. 
  5. ^ Argenta PA; Bell K; Reynolds C; Weinstein R (Oct 1997). "Bartholin's gland hyperplasia in a postmenopausal woman". Obstetrics & Gynecology 90 (4 part 2): 695-7. PMID 11770602. 
  6. ^ Bartholin's gland at Who Named It?
  7. ^ C. C. Gillispie (ed.): Dictionary of Scientific Biography, New York 1970. See the article on Thomas Bartholin.

External links

v • d • e
Female reproductive system (TA A09.1-2, GA 11.1254)
Adnexa
Uterus
Vulva/
mons pubis
vestibular glands/ducts (Bartholin's glands/Bartholin's ducts, Skene's glands/Skene's ducts) · Fossa of vestibule of vagina · Vaginal fornix · Hymen · Orifice
Vestiges
Other
reproductive system navs: anat female,male/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bartholin's gland".  Read more