# Bartholin's gland

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Mucous glands located near the vaginal opening

Bartholin's gland Female genital organs with Bartholin's gland opening circled Details Precursor Urogenital sinus Artery External pudendal artery[1] Nerve Ilioinguinal nerve[1] Lymph Superficial inguinal lymph nodes Identifiers Latin glandula vestibularis major MeSH D001472 TA98 A09.2.01.016 TA2 3563 FMA 9598 Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The **Bartholin's glands** (named after [Caspar Bartholin the Younger](/source/Caspar_Bartholin_the_Younger); also called **Bartholin glands** or **greater vestibular glands**) are two pea-sized [compound alveolar glands](/source/Compound_racemose_glands)[2] located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the [opening of the vagina](/source/Vagina#Vaginal_opening_and_hymen).[3] They secrete mucus to [lubricate the vagina](/source/Vaginal_lubrication).[3]

They are [homologous](/source/Homology_(biology)) to [bulbourethral glands](/source/Bulbourethral_gland) in males. However, while Bartholin's glands are located in the [superficial perineal pouch](/source/Superficial_perineal_pouch) in females, bulbourethral glands are located in the [deep perineal pouch](/source/Deep_perineal_pouch) in males. Their duct length is 1.5 to 2.0 cm and they open into [navicular fossa](/source/Fossa_of_vestibule_of_vagina).[2] The ducts are paired and they open on the surface of the [vulva](/source/Vulva).[3]

## Structure

The embryological origin of the Bartholin's glands is derived from the [urogenital sinus](/source/Urogenital_sinus); therefore, the innervation and blood supply are via the [pudendal nerve](/source/Pudendal_nerve) and [external pudendal artery](/source/Pudendal_arteries), respectively. The [superficial inguinal lymph nodes](/source/Superficial_inguinal_lymph_nodes) and pelvic nodes provide lymphatic drainage.[4]

These glands are pea-sized (0.5–1.0 cm) and are lined with [columnar epithelium](/source/Columnar_epithelium). The duct length is 1.5–2 cm and is lined with [squamous epithelium](/source/Squamous_epithelium). These are located just beneath the fascia and their ducts drain into the vestibular mucosa. These mucoid alkaline secreting glands are arranged as lobules consisting of alveoli lined by cuboidal or [columnar epithelium](/source/Columnar_epithelium). Their efferent ducts are composed of [transitional epithelium](/source/Transitional_epithelium), which merges into squamous epithelium as it enters the distal vagina. The more proximal portions of the ductal system are lined by transitional epithelium and may be lined by columnar epithelium before arborization into glandular secretory elements.[5]

These glands lie on the [perineal membrane](/source/Perineal_membrane) and beneath the [bulbospongiosus muscle](/source/Bulbospongiosus_muscle) at the tail end of the [vestibular bulb](/source/Vestibular_bulb) deep to the posterior [labia majora](/source/Labia_majora). The intimate relation between the enormously vascular tissue of the vestibular bulb and the Bartholin's glands is responsible for the risk of [hemorrhage](/source/Hemorrhage) associated with the removal of this latter structure.[6]

The openings of the Bartholin's glands are located on the posterior margin of the [introitus](/source/Vaginal_opening) bilaterally in a groove between the [hymen](/source/Hymen) and the [labium minus](/source/Labium_minus) at the 4:00 and 8:00 o'clock positions. The glands duct opening is seen on the posterolateral aspect of the vestibule 3 to 4 mm outside the hymen or hymenal caruncles lateral to the hymenal ring.[7]

## History

*De ovariis mulierum et generationis historia epistola anatomica*, 1678

Bartholin's glands were first described in 1677 by the 17th-century Danish anatomist [Caspar Bartholin the Younger](/source/Caspar_Bartholin_the_Younger) (1655–1738).[8][9] Earlier he jointly discovered the glands in cows with [Joseph Guichard Duverney](/source/Joseph_Guichard_Duverney) (1648–1730), a French anatomist.[10] Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist [Caspar Bartholin the Elder](/source/Caspar_Bartholin_the_Elder) (1585–1629).[11]

## Function

Bartholin's glands secrete [mucus](/source/Mucus) to provide [vaginal lubrication](/source/Vaginal_lubrication) during [sexual arousal](/source/Sexual_arousal).[9][12][13] The fluid may slightly moisten the labial opening of the vagina, serving to make contact with this sensitive area more comfortable.[14] Fluid from the Bartholin's glands is combined with other vaginal secretions as a "lubrication fluid" in the amount of about 6 grams per day, and contains high [potassium](/source/Potassium) and low [sodium](/source/Sodium) concentrations relative to [blood plasma](/source/Blood_plasma), with a [slightly acidic](/source/Acid) [pH](/source/PH) of 4.7.[15]

## Clinical pathology

It is possible for the Bartholin's glands to become blocked and inflamed resulting in pain.[14] This is known as [bartholinitis](/source/Bartholinitis) or a Bartholin's cyst.[9][16][17] A Bartholin's cyst in turn can become infected and form an [abscess](/source/Abscess). [Adenocarcinoma](/source/Adenocarcinoma) of the gland is rare and benign tumors and [hyperplasia](/source/Hyperplasia) are even more rare.[18] [Bartholin gland carcinoma](/source/Bartholin_gland_carcinoma)[19] is a rare malignancy that occurs in 1% of vulvar cancers. This may be due to the presence of three different types of epithelial tissue.[8] Inflammation of the [Skene's glands](/source/Skene's_glands) and Bartholin glands may appear similar to [cystocele](/source/Cystocele).[20]

## Other animals

The major vestibular glands are found in many [mammals](/source/Mammal) such as [cats](/source/Cat), [cows](/source/Cow), and some [sheep](/source/Sheep).[21][22]

## See also

- [List of distinct cell types in the adult human body](/source/List_of_distinct_cell_types_in_the_adult_human_body)

- [List of related male and female reproductive organs](/source/List_of_related_male_and_female_reproductive_organs)

- [Mesonephric duct](/source/Mesonephric_duct)

- [Skene's gland](/source/Skene's_gland)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-stanford_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-stanford_1-1) [Greater Vestibular (Bartholin) gland](http://summit.stanford.edu/ourwork/PROJECTS/LUCY/lucywebsite/vestib_gl.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070112050338/http://summit.stanford.edu/ourwork/PROJECTS/LUCY/lucywebsite/vestib_gl.html) January 12, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) Manual of Obstetrics. (3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 1-16. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788131225561](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788131225561).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Broach2022_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Broach2022_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Broach2022_3-2) Broach, Vance; Lawson, Barrett (2023). "Bartholin gland carcinomas". *Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers*. pp. 305–314. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/B978-0-323-82938-0.00018-5](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FB978-0-323-82938-0.00018-5). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-323-82938-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-323-82938-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Omole F, Simmons BJ, Hacker Y. Management of Bartholin's duct cyst and gland abscess. Am Fam Physician 2003;68:135–40.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Quaresma C, Sparzak PB. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, Bartholin gland. StatPearls. [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan 24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** DeLancey JO. Surgical anatomy of the female pelvis. In: Jones HW, Rock JA, eds. Te Linde’s Operative Gynecology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2015:93-122.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Hoffman B.L., Schorge J.O., Schaffer J.I., Halvorson L.M., Bradshaw K.D., Cunnigham F.G., Calver L.E. (2012). Chapter 38. Anatomy. In B.L. Hoffman, J.O. Schorge, J.I. Schaffer, L.M. Halvorson, K.D. Bradshaw, F.G. Cunnigham, L.E. Calver (Eds), Williams Gynecology, 2e.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HellerBean2014_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HellerBean2014_8-1) Heller, Debra S.; Bean, Sarah (2014). "Lesions of the Bartholin Gland". *Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease*. **18** (4): 351–357. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1097/LGT.0000000000000016](https://doi.org/10.1097%2FLGT.0000000000000016). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1089-2591](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1089-2591). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [24914884](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24914884).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lee_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lee_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-lee_9-2) Lee, Min Y.; Dalpiaz, Amanda; Schwamb, Richard; Miao, Yimei; Waltzer, Wayne; Khan, Ali (May 2015). ["Clinical Pathology of Bartholin's Glands: A Review of the Literature"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4483306). *Current Urology*. **8** (1): 22–25. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1159/000365683](https://doi.org/10.1159%2F000365683). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4483306](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4483306). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [26195958](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26195958).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** 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

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** C. C. Gillispie (ed.): *Dictionary of Scientific Biography*, New York 1970.[*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*].

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100715142046/http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html). University of Arkansas Medical School. Archived from [the original](http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html) on 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2007-07-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** 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*. **135** (1): 116–22. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.06.031](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ejogrb.2006.06.031). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16987591](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16987591).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Discovery_health_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Discovery_health_14-1) ["Bartholin's Gland"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080804023201/http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html). Discovery Health. Archived from [the original](http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html) on 2008-08-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pastor_15-0)** Pastor, Zlatko; Chmel, Roman (May 2018). "Differential diagnostics of female 'sexual' fluids: a narrative review". *International Urogynecology Journal*. **29** (5): 621–629. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s00192-017-3527-9](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00192-017-3527-9). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29285596](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29285596). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [5045626](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:5045626).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Sue E. Huether (2014). [*Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children*](https://books.google.com/books?id=l9XsAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA817). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 817. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780323293754](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780323293754).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Lee, William A.; Wittler, Micah (2022). ["Bartholin Gland Cyst"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532271/). *StatPearls*. StatPearls Publishing. [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [30335304](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30335304).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Argenta PA, Bell K, Reynolds C, Weinstein R (Oct 1997). ["Bartholin's gland hyperplasia in a postmenopausal woman"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0029-7844%2897%2900409-2). *Obstetrics & Gynecology*. **90** (4 part 2): 695–7. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0029-7844(97)00409-2](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0029-7844%2897%2900409-2). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [11770602](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11770602). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [8403143](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:8403143).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Bora, Shabana A.; Condous, George (October 2009). "Bartholin's, vulval and perineal abscesses". *Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology*. **23** (5): 661–666. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2009.05.002](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.bpobgyn.2009.05.002). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19647493](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19647493).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Cystoceles, Urethroceles, Enteroceles, and Rectoceles - Gynecology and Obstetrics - Merck Manuals Professional Edition"](https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/pelvic-relaxation-syndromes/cystoceles,-urethroceles,-enteroceles,-and-rectoceles). *Merck Manuals Professional Edition*. Retrieved 2018-02-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Leibich, Hans-Georg (2019). [*Veterinary Histology of Domestic Mammals and Birds: Textbook and Colour Atlas*](https://books.google.com/books?id=j87wTz362roC&pg=PA208). 5m Publishing Limited. pp. 14–30. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78918-106-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78918-106-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** McEntee, Mark (2012). [*Reproductive Pathology of Domestic Mammals*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AiISEAAAQBAJ&pg=SA14-PA30). Elsevier Science. p. 208. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-32313-804-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-32313-804-8).

v t e Female reproductive system Internal Adnexa Ovaries Follicles Corpus Hemorrhagicum Luteum Albicans Thecae Externa Interna Follicular antrum Follicular fluid Corona radiata Zona pellucida Membrana granulosa Perivitelline space Other Germinal epithelium Tunica albuginea Cortex Cumulus oophorus Stroma Medulla Retia ovarii Oogenesis Oogonium Oocytogenesis Oocyte Ootidogenesis Ootid Ovum Fallopian tubes Isthmi Ampullae Infundibula Fimbriae Ostia Intramural segments Ligaments Ovarian ligaments Suspensory ligaments Pampiniform plexus Wolffian vestiges Gartner's ducts Epoophora Vesicular appendages Paroophora Uterus Regions Body Cavity Fundus Isthmus Cervix Canal Internal os External os Supravaginal portion Horns Layers Wall Endometrium Myometrium Perimetrium Parametrium Epithelium Ligaments Round ligaments Broad ligaments Cardinal ligaments Uterosacral ligaments Pubocervical ligaments General Glands Urogenital diaphragm Vestibular glands Bartholin's glands Skene's glands Vagina Canal Rugae Walls Fornices Support structures Epithelium External Vulva Labia Mons pubis Labia majora Pudendal cleft Labiocrural folds Anterior commissure Posterior commissure Dartos muliebris Posterior labial nerves Anterior labial nerves Perineal nerve Labia minora Frenulum Posterior labial arteries Posterior labial veins Interlabial sulci Clitoris Root Crura Bulbs Suspensory ligament Fundiform ligament Body Corpora cavernosa Trabeculae of corpora cavernosa Infra-corporeal residual spongy part Angle Commissure of bulbs Pars intermedia Glans Corona Frenulum Arteries Dorsal arteries Deep arteries Arteries of bulbs Internal pudendal artery Veins Superficial dorsal veins Deep dorsal veins Veins of bulbs Internal pudendal veins Nerves Dorsal nerves Pudendal nerve Clitoral hood Fascia Tunica albuginea Septum Vestibule Fossa Vaginal orifice Hymen Vestibular gland openings Urethra External urethral orifice Blood supply Arteries Ovarian arteries Uterine artery Arcuate artery Vaginal artery Spiral arteries Veins Ovarian veins Uterine vein Uterine venous plexuses Vaginal venous plexus Other G-spot Urethral sponge Perineal sponge Rectouterine pouch Vesicouterine pouch Uterotubal junctions

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bartholin's gland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholin's_gland) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholin's_gland?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.