Bartholin's gland
Bartholin's Gland
Bartholin's gland (/bɑːrˈθoʊlɪnz ˈɡlænd/), also known as the greater vestibular gland, is a pair of pea-sized exocrine glands located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina. They secrete mucus to lubricate the vagina and are homologous to bulbourethral glands in males.
Etymology
The gland is named after the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger, who first described it in the 17th century. The term "Bartholin" is derived from the Greek words "barthos" meaning "heavy" and "linon" meaning "flax or linen", referring to the gland's function in producing a heavy, linen-like secretion.
Function
Bartholin's glands play a crucial role in the female reproductive system. They produce a mucus secretion that moistens the outer genitalia and the vulva, which is particularly important during sexual arousal to reduce friction.
Related Terms
- Bartholin's cyst: A fluid-filled sac that can form when the duct of a Bartholin's gland is blocked.
- Bartholin's abscess: An infection in a Bartholin's gland, which can cause a painful lump and other symptoms.
- Marsupialization: A surgical procedure often used to treat Bartholin's cysts or abscesses.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bartholin's gland
- Wikipedia's article - Bartholin's gland
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski