Bartholin's gland Information & Bartholin's gland Links at HealthHaven.com

Bartholin's gland
	Genital organs of female.;
Latin	glandula vestibularis major
Gray's	subject #270 1266
Artery	external pudendal artery
Nerve	ilioinguinal nerve
Lymph	superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Precursor	Urogenital sinus
MeSH	Bartholin's+Glands
Dorlands/Elsevier	Bartholin gland

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 lubricate the vagina and are homologous to bulbourethral glands in males. However, while Bartholin's glands are located in the superficial perineal pouch in females, bulbourethral glands are located in the deep perineal pouch.

[edit] Function

They secrete mucus to provide vaginal lubrication.^[2]^[3] Bartholin's glands secrete relatively minute amounts (one or two drops) of fluid just before a woman orgasms.^[4] The minute droplets of fluid were once believed to be important for lubricating the vagina, but research from Masters and Johnson demonstrated that vaginal lubrication comes from deeper within the vagina.^[4] The fluid may slightly moisten the labial opening of the vagina, serving to make contact with this sensitive area more comfortable for the woman.^[4]

[edit] Pathology

Although unusual, it is possible for the Bartholin's glands to become irritated or infected, resulting in pain.^[4] If the duct becomes obstructed, a Bartholin's cyst can develop, and a Bartholin's cyst in turn can become infected and form an abscess. Carcinoma of the gland is rare, but benign tumors and hyperplasia are even more rare.^[5]

[edit] Eponym

Bartholin's glands were first described in the 17th century by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger (1655–1738).^[6] Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Elder (1585–1629).^[7]

[edit] Pop culture

"Bartholin's Gland" is the title of a song by the punk rock group Mr. on their EP Joseph Stalin versus the Cotton Gin.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Greater Vestibular (Bartholin) gland
^ "Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle". University of Arkansas Medical School. http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html.
^ Chrétien, F.C.; Berthou J. (September 18, 2006). "Crystallographic investigation of the dried exudate of the major vestibular (Bartholin's) glands in women.". Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.. PMID 16987591.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Bartholin's Gland". Discovery Health. http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html.
^ Argenta PA; Bell K; Reynolds C; Weinstein R (Oct 1997). "Bartholin's gland hyperplasia in a postmenopausal woman". Obstetrics & Gynecology 90 (4 part 2): 695-7. PMID 11770602.
^ Bartholin's gland at Who Named It?
^ 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
greater+vestibular+gland at eMedicine Dictionary

[stanford-0] Greater Vestibular (Bartholin) gland

[1] "Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle". University of Arkansas Medical School. http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html.

[2] Chrétien, F.C.; Berthou J. (September 18, 2006). "Crystallographic investigation of the dried exudate of the major vestibular (Bartholin's) glands in women.". Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.. PMID 16987591.

[Discovery_health-3] "Bartholin's Gland". Discovery Health. http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html.

[4] Argenta PA; Bell K; Reynolds C; Weinstein R (Oct 1997). "Bartholin's gland hyperplasia in a postmenopausal woman". Obstetrics & Gynecology 90 (4 part 2): 695-7. PMID 11770602.

[5] Bartholin's gland at Who Named It?

[6] C. C. Gillispie (ed.): Dictionary of Scientific Biography, New York 1970. See the article on Thomas Bartholin.

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