Bartholin's gland
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| 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 | glandulæ vestibularis major |
| Gray's | subject #270 1266 |
| Lymph | superficial inguinal lymph nodes |
| Precursor | Urogenital sinus |
| MeSH | Bartholin's+Glands |
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. While their secretion is sometimes described as being a lubrication for sexual congress, this description is a misnomer. They secrete a waxy substance of which the purpose is not fully understood, but does contain pheremones.
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).
Bartholin's glands are homologous to Cowper's glands in males.
[edit] See also
[edit] Reference
- C. C. Gillispie (ed.): Dictionary of Scientific Biography, New York 1970. See the article on Thomas Bartholin.
[edit] 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
- Dictionary at eMedicine greater+vestibular+gland
de:Glandula vestibularis major es:Glándula de Bartholin fr:Glande de Bartholin id:Kelenjar Bartholini lt:Bartolino liauka nl:Klier van Bartholin ja:バルトリン腺 pt:Glândula de Bartholin ru:Бартолиновы железы simple:Bartholin's gland sv:Bartholins körtlar zh:前庭大腺
