Bartholin glands
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.
On this page:
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. Earlier he jointly discovered the glands in cows with Joseph Guichard du Verney (1648-1730) a French anatomist 3-5.
Related pathology
- Bartholin cyst
- Bartholin abscess
-
tumors of Bartholin gland
- squamous cell carcinoma
- adenocarcinoma
- adenoid cystic carcinoma
- Bartholinitis
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
-
abdominal cavity
-
peritoneum
- peritoneal ligaments
- mesentery
-
peritoneal spaces
-
supramesocolic space
-
right supramesocolic space
- right subphrenic space
-
right subhepatic space
- anterior right subhepatic space
- posterior right subhepatic space (Morison pouch)
-
lesser sac
- epiploic foramen (of Winslow)
- left supramesocolic space (left perihepatic space)
-
right supramesocolic space
- inframesocolic space
-
supramesocolic space
- inguinal canal (mnemonic)
- Hesselbach triangle
- umbilical folds
- retroperitoneum
-
peritoneum
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- uterine tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterio-arterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.