skene

In ancient Greek theatre, a building behind the playing area that was originally a hut in which actors changed masks and costumes. It eventually became the scenic backdrop for the drama. First used circa 465 BC, the skene was a small wooden structure facing the circle of spectators. It developed into a two-story edifice decorated with columns, with three doors used for entrances and exits. It was flanked by wings (paraskēnia). By the end of the 5th century BC, the wooden skene was replaced by a permanent stone structure. In the Roman theatre it was an elaborate building facade.

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In human anatomy (female), the Skene's glands (also known as the lesser vestibular, periurethral glands, skene glands, paraurethral glands, 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 urethral sponge. The Skene's glands are homologous with the prostate gland in males.

Female ejaculation

Some believe that the Skene's glands are the source of female ejaculation. 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.

It has been demonstrated that a large amount of lubricating fluid (filtered blood plasma) can be excreted from this gland when stimulated from inside the vagina. Recommended procedure is to use two fingers at first to cause it to fill up, then a single finger down the middle to cause release. This may be repeated many times.

Female prostate

The fluid that emerges during female ejaculation has a composition similar to the fluid generated in males by the prostate gland, containing biochemical markers of sexual function like human protein 1 and the enzyme PDE5. When examined with electron microscopy, both glands show similar secretory structures, and both act similarly in terms of prostate-specific antigen and prostate-specific acid phosphatase studies. 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.

Eponym

The glands were named after the physician who described them first in Western medical literature, Alexander Skene.

See also

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

References

External links

• The paraurethral glands in scientific literature
• BBC 2002
• Jones N Bigger is better when it comes to the G spot. New Scientist. .
• Geddes L Ultrasound nails location of the elusive G spot. New Scientist. .
• Gravina GL, Brandetti F, Martini P, et al (2008). "Measurement of the thickness of the urethrovaginal space in women with or without vaginal orgasm". J Sex Med 5 (3): 610–8.
• LA Times 2008
• Sexuality.org G-spot information page