Bartholin glands
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Jeffrey Cheng had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeffrey Cheng's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures- Greater vestibular glands
- Bartholin's gland
- Bartholin gland
- Vulvovaginal glands
- Vulvovaginal gland
- Greater vestibular gland
The Bartholin glands, also known as the greater vestibular glands (or vulvovaginal glands) are paired pea-sized structures, lying on either side of the vaginal opening, and are homologous to the bulbourethral (Cowper) glands in the male. They form part of the vulva.
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Gross anatomy
These glands are described as less than 1 cm in diameter and found behind the posterior ends of each vestibular bulb. Each gland opens into the posterolateral vaginal orifice (between the hymen and the respective labium minus) via a 2 cm long duct.
The secretory cells within the duct are columnar and secrete lubricating fluid especially during sexual arousal.
History and etymology
The Bartholin glands are named after the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger (1655-1738), who made the first detailed study of their physiology and anatomy in human females. He first described the glands in 1677 3. Earlier, he jointly discovered the glands in cows with Joseph Guichard du Verney (1648-1730) a French anatomist 4-6.
Related pathology
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squamous cell carcinoma
adenocarcinoma
adenoid cystic carcinoma
References
- 1. Mcminn. Last's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780729537520
- 2. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780443066849
- 3. Bora S & Condous G. Bartholin's, Vulval and Perineal Abscesses. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2009;23(5):661-6. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2009.05.002 - Pubmed
- 4. Bouchet A. [Gaspard II Bartholin and the vulvovaginal gland]. (2000) Annales de chirurgie. 125 (5): 483-8. Pubmed
- 5. Benkhadra M, Salomon C, Bressanutti V, Cheynel N, Genelot D, Trost O, Trouilloud P. [Joseph-Guichard Duverney (1648-1730). Doctor, teacher and researcher in the 17th and 18th centuries]. (2010) Morphologie : bulletin de l'Association des anatomistes. 94 (306): 63-7. doi:10.1016/j.morpho.2010.02.001 - Pubmed
- 6. Hill RV. The contributions of the Bartholin family to the study and practice of clinical anatomy. (2007) Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.). 20 (2): 113-5. doi:10.1002/ca.20355 - Pubmed
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