Bartholin's gland

{{short description|Mucous glands located near the vaginal opening}} {{Infobox anatomy | Name = Bartholin's gland | Latin = glandula vestibularis major | Image = Skenes gland.jpg | Caption = Female genital organs with Bartholin's gland opening circled | Width = | Image2 = | Caption2 = | Precursor = [[Urogenital sinus]] | System = | Artery = [[Deep external pudendal artery|External pudendal artery]]<ref name="stanford">[http://summit.stanford.edu/ourwork/PROJECTS/LUCY/lucywebsite/vestib_gl.html Greater Vestibular (Bartholin) gland] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112050338/http://summit.stanford.edu/ourwork/PROJECTS/LUCY/lucywebsite/vestib_gl.html |date=January 12, 2007 }}</ref> | Vein = | Nerve = [[Ilioinguinal nerve]]<ref name="stanford" /> | Lymph = [[Superficial inguinal lymph nodes]] }} The '''Bartholin's glands''' (named after [[Caspar Bartholin the Younger]]; also called '''Bartholin glands''' or '''greater vestibular glands''') are two pea-sized [[compound racemose glands|compound alveolar glands]]<ref name=":1">Manual of Obstetrics. (3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 1-16. {{ISBN|9788131225561}}.</ref> located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the [[Vagina#Vaginal opening and hymen|opening of the vagina]].<ref name=Broach2022>{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-0-323-82938-0.00018-5 |chapter=Bartholin gland carcinomas |title=Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Cancers |year=2023 |last1=Broach |first1=Vance |last2=Lawson |first2=Barrett |pages=305–314 |isbn=978-0-323-82938-0 }}</ref> They secrete mucus to [[Vaginal lubrication|lubricate the vagina]].<ref name=Broach2022/>

They are [[homology (biology)|homologous]] to [[bulbourethral gland]]s 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]] in males. Their duct length is 1.5 to 2.0 cm and they open into [[fossa of vestibule of vagina|navicular fossa]].<ref name=":1" /> The ducts are paired and they open on the surface of the [[vulva]].<ref name=Broach2022/>

== Structure == The embryological origin of the Bartholin's glands is derived from the [[urogenital sinus]]; therefore, the innervation and blood supply are via the [[pudendal nerve]] and [[pudendal arteries|external pudendal artery]], respectively. The [[superficial inguinal lymph nodes]] and pelvic nodes provide lymphatic drainage.<ref>Omole F, Simmons BJ, Hacker Y. Management of Bartholin's duct cyst and gland abscess. Am Fam Physician 2003;68:135–40.</ref>

These glands are pea-sized (0.5–1.0 cm) and are lined with [[columnar epithelium]]. The duct length is 1.5–2 cm and is lined with [[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]]. Their efferent ducts are composed of [[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.<ref>Quaresma C, Sparzak PB. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, Bartholin gland. StatPearls. [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan 24.</ref>

These glands lie on the [[perineal membrane]] and beneath the [[bulbospongiosus muscle]] at the tail end of the [[vestibular bulb]] deep to the posterior [[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]] associated with the removal of this latter structure.<ref>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.</ref>

The openings of the Bartholin's glands are located on the posterior margin of the [[Vaginal opening|introitus]] bilaterally in a groove between the [[hymen]] and the [[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.<ref>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.</ref>

==History== [[Image:Bartholin - De ovariis mulierum et generationis historia epistola anatomica, 1678 - 3036572.tif|thumb|''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]] (1655–1738).<ref name="HellerBean2014"/><ref name="lee">{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Min Y. |last2=Dalpiaz |first2=Amanda |last3=Schwamb |first3=Richard |last4=Miao |first4=Yimei |last5=Waltzer |first5=Wayne |last6=Khan |first6=Ali |title=Clinical Pathology of Bartholin's Glands: A Review of the Literature |journal=Current Urology |date=May 2015 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=22–25 |doi=10.1159/000365683 |pmid=26195958 |pmc=4483306 }}</ref> Earlier he jointly discovered the glands in cows with [[Joseph Guichard Duverney]] (1648–1730), a French anatomist.<ref>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</ref> Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist [[Caspar Bartholin the Elder]] (1585–1629).<ref>C. C. Gillispie (ed.): ''Dictionary of Scientific Biography'', New York 1970.{{page needed|date=May 2015}}.</ref>

==Function== Bartholin's glands secrete [[mucus]] to provide [[vaginal lubrication]] during [[sexual arousal]].<ref name=lee/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html | title = Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle | publisher = University of Arkansas Medical School | access-date = 2007-07-23 | archive-date = 2010-07-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100715142046/http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/ugtriangle.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Chrétien|first=F.C.|author2=Berthou J.|date=September 18, 2006|title=Crystallographic investigation of the dried exudate of the major vestibular (Bartholin's) glands in women.|journal=Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol|volume=135|issue=1|pages=116–22|doi=10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.06.031|pmid=16987591}}</ref> The fluid may slightly moisten the labial opening of the vagina, serving to make contact with this sensitive area more comfortable.<ref name="Discovery health">{{cite web|url=http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html|title=Bartholin's Gland|publisher=Discovery Health|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804023201/http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/bartholins.html|archive-date=2008-08-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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]] and low [[sodium]] concentrations relative to [[blood plasma]], with a [[acid|slightly acidic]] [[pH]] of 4.7.<ref name="pastor">{{cite journal |last1=Pastor |first1=Zlatko |last2=Chmel |first2=Roman |title=Differential diagnostics of female 'sexual' fluids: a narrative review |journal=International Urogynecology Journal |date=May 2018 |volume=29 |issue=5 |pages=621–629 |doi=10.1007/s00192-017-3527-9 |pmid=29285596 |s2cid=5045626 }}</ref>

==Clinical pathology== It is possible for the Bartholin's glands to become blocked and inflamed resulting in pain.<ref name="Discovery health"/> This is known as [[bartholinitis]] or a Bartholin's cyst.<ref name=lee/><ref>{{cite book|author1=Sue E. Huether|title=Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children|date=2014|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=9780323293754|pages=817|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9XsAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA817}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=William A. |last2=Wittler |first2=Micah |title=StatPearls |date=2022 |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |chapter-url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532271/ |chapter=Bartholin Gland Cyst |pmid=30335304 }}</ref> A Bartholin's cyst in turn can become infected and form an [[abscess]]. [[Adenocarcinoma]] of the gland is rare and benign tumors and [[hyperplasia]] are even more rare.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Bartholin's gland hyperplasia in a postmenopausal woman |vauthors=Argenta PA, Bell K, Reynolds C, Weinstein R | journal = Obstetrics & Gynecology |date=Oct 1997 | volume = 90 | pages = 695–7 | pmid = 11770602 | issue = 4 part 2 | doi = 10.1016/S0029-7844(97)00409-2|s2cid=8403143 | doi-access = free }}</ref> [[Bartholin gland carcinoma]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bora |first1=Shabana A. |last2=Condous |first2=George |title=Bartholin's, vulval and perineal abscesses |journal=Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology |date=October 2009 |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=661–666 |doi=10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2009.05.002 |pmid=19647493 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="HellerBean2014">{{cite journal|last1=Heller|first1=Debra S.|last2=Bean|first2=Sarah|title=Lesions of the Bartholin Gland|journal=Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease|volume=18|issue=4|year=2014|pages=351–357|issn=1089-2591|doi=10.1097/LGT.0000000000000016|pmid=24914884}}</ref> Inflammation of the [[Skene's glands]] and Bartholin glands may appear similar to [[cystocele]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/pelvic-relaxation-syndromes/cystoceles,-urethroceles,-enteroceles,-and-rectoceles|title=Cystoceles, Urethroceles, Enteroceles, and Rectoceles - Gynecology and Obstetrics - Merck Manuals Professional Edition|work=Merck Manuals Professional Edition|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Other animals== The major vestibular glands are found in many [[mammal]]s such as [[cat]]s, [[cow]]s, and some [[sheep]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Leibich|first=Hans-Georg|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=j87wTz362roC&pg=PA208|title= Veterinary Histology of Domestic Mammals and Birds: Textbook and Colour Atlas|pages=14–30|year=2019|publisher=5m Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-78918-106-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McEntee|first=Mark|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AiISEAAAQBAJ&pg=SA14-PA30|title= Reproductive Pathology of Domestic Mammals|page=208|year=2012|publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=978-0-32313-804-8}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of distinct cell types in the adult human body]] * [[List of related male and female reproductive organs]] * [[Mesonephric duct]] * [[Skene's gland]]

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bartholin's Gland}} [[Category:Glands]] [[Category:Exocrine system]] [[Category:Human female reproductive system]] [[Category:Mammal female reproductive system]] [[Category:Anatomy named for one who described it]] [[Category:Sex organs]] [[Category:Vagina]]