Bulbourethral gland

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Bulbourethral gland

Male Anatomy
Image:Gray543.png
The deeper branches of the internal pudendal artery.
Latin	glandulæ bulbourethrales
Gray's	subject #264 1253
Artery	Artery of the urethral bulb
Precursor	Urogenital sinus
MeSH	Bulbourethral+Glands

A bulbourethral gland (or Cowper's gland) is one of two small exocrine glands present in the reproductive system of human males. They are homologous to Bartholin's glands in females. Bulbourethral glands are located behind and lateral to the membranous portion of the urethra at the base of the penis, between the two layers of the fascia of the urogenital diaphragm, and enclosed by the transverse fibers of the sphincter urethrae membranaceae muscle.

1 Structure
2 Function
3 Additional images
4 See also

[edit] Structure

The bulbourethral glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands, each approximately the size of a pea. They are composed of several lobules held together by a fibrous covering. Each lobule consists of a number of acini, lined by columnar epithelial cells, opening into a duct which joins with the ducts of other lobules to form a single excretory duct. This duct is approximately 2.5 cm long and opens into the urethra at the base of the penis. The glands appear to gradually diminish in size as age advances.

[edit] Function

During sexual arousal each gland produces a clear, viscous secretion known as pre-ejaculate. This fluid helps to lubricate the urethra for spermatozoa to pass through, and to help flush out any residual urine or foreign matter.