Bartholin's gland

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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 provide lubrication.

Bartholin's glands are homologous to Cowper's glands in males. However, while Bartholin's glands are located in the superficial perineal pouch, Cowper's glands are located in the deep perineal pouch.

Eponym

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).

See also

• Bartholin's cyst
• Skene's glands
• List of homologues of the human reproductive system

References

External links

• - "The Female Perineum: Muscles of the Superficial Perineal Pouch"
• - opening

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Last updated on Thursday January 24, 2008 at 20:23:10 PST (GMT -0800)
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