Skene's gland

Skene's gland
Skene's Gland is not pictured.
Human female internal reproductive anatomy
Latin	glandulae vestibulares minores
Gray's	subject #252 1213
Precursor	Wolffian duct
Dorlands/Elsevier	Paraurethral glands

In human anatomy (female), the Skene's glands (also known as the lesser vestibular, periurethral glands, skene glands, paraurethral glands,^[1] U-spot, or female prostate) are glands located on the anterior wall of the vagina, around the lower end of the urethra. They drain into the urethra and near the urethral opening. These glands are surrounded with tissue, which includes the part of the clitoris that reaches up inside the vagina and swells with blood during sexual arousal.

Homology and possible functions

The location of the Skene's gland is the general area of the vagina. The Skene's glands are homologous with the prostate gland in males.^[2]

Female ejaculation

Some believe that the Skene's glands are the source of female ejaculation.^[3] In 2002, Emanuele Jannini of L'Aquila University in Italy showed that there may be an explanation both for the phenomenon and for the frequent denials of its existence. Skene's glands have highly variable anatomy, and in some extreme cases they appear to be missing entirely. If Skene's glands are the cause of female ejaculation and G-spot-orgasms, this may explain the observed absence of these phenomena in many women.^[4][5]

It has been demonstrated that a large amount of lubricating fluid (filtered blood plasma) can be secreted from this gland when stimulated from inside the vagina.^[6] Others suppressed sexual climax, and sought medical advice for this "problem," and even underwent surgery.^[7]

Female prostate

The fluid that emerges during female ejaculation has a composition similar to the semen generated in males by the prostate gland,^[8] containing biochemical markers of sexual function like human protein 1^[9] and the enzyme PDE5. When examined with electron microscopy, both glands show similar secretory structures,^[10] and both act similarly in terms of prostate-specific antigen and prostate-specific acid phosphatase studies.^{[11][12][13][14]} Because they are increasingly perceived as merely different versions of the same gland, some researchers are moving away from the name Skene's gland and referring to it instead as the female prostate.^[15]

Sexual response

Some women have reported that oral stimulation in the area around the urethra, particularly the Skene's gland, results in a pleasurable sensation and even orgasm. This has resulted in the Skene's gland being referred to as the U-spot in a sexual context.

Eponym

The glands were named after the physician who described them first in Western medical literature, Alexander Skene.^{[16] [17]}

See also

• Bartholin's gland
• List of homologues of the human reproductive system
• Pudendal nerve
• Vaginal orgasm
• Wolffian duct

References

External links

• The paraurethral glands in scientific literature
• BBC 2002
• Jones N (3 July 2002). "Bigger is better when it comes to the G spot". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992495. 
• Geddes L (20 February 2008). "Ultrasound nails location of the elusive G spot". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19726444.100-ultrasound-nails-location-of-the-elusive-g-spot.html. 
• Gravina GL, Brandetti F, Martini P, et al. (March 2008). "Measurement of the thickness of the urethrovaginal space in women with or without vaginal orgasm". J Sex Med 5 (3): 610–8. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00739.x. PMID 18221286. 
• LA Times 2008
• Sexuality.org G-spot (information page)
• Glossario di Sessuologia clinica - Glossary of clinical sexology (It - En)