Bulbourethral gland

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Bulbourethral gland
Male Anatomy
The deeper branches of the internal pudendal artery. (Bulbourethral gland labeled at center left.)
Latin glandulæ bulbourethrales
Gray's subject #264 1253
Artery Artery of the urethral bulb
Precursor Urogenital sinus
MeSH Bulbourethral+Glands

A bulbourethral gland (or Cowper's gland) is one of two small exocrine glands present in the reproductive system of human males. They are homologous to Bartholin's glands in females.

Contents

[edit] Location

Bulbourethral glands are located posterior and lateral to the membranous portion of the urethra at the base of the penis, between the two layers of the fascia of the urogenital diaphragm, in the deep perineal pouch.

They are enclosed by the transverse fibers of the sphincter urethrae membranaceae muscle.

[edit] Structure

The bulbourethral glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands, each approximately the size of a pea. They are composed of several lobules held together by a fibrous covering. Each lobule consists of a number of acini, lined by columnar epithelial cells, opening into a duct which joins with the ducts of other lobules to form a single excretory duct. This duct is approximately 2.5 cm long and opens into the urethra at the base of the penis. The glands appear to gradually diminish in size as age advances.

[edit] Function

During sexual arousal each gland produces a clear, viscous secretion known as pre-ejaculate. This fluid helps to lubricate the urethra for spermatozoa to pass through, and to help flush out any residual urine or foreign matter.

[edit] Additional images

[edit] See also

v  d  e
Male reproductive system
Scrotum : layers (skin, Dartos, External spermatic fascia, Cremaster, Internal spermatic fascia) | Perineal raphe | Spermatic cord

Testes: layers (Tunica vaginalis, Tunica albuginea), Appendix, Mediastinum, Lobules, Septa, Leydig cell, Sertoli cell, Blood-testis barrier

Spermatogenesis: Spermatogonium, Spermatocytogenesis, Spermatocyte, Spermatidogenesis, Spermatid, Spermiogenesis, Spermatozoon

seminal tract: Seminiferous tubules (Tubuli seminiferi recti, Rete testis, Efferent ducts) | Epididymis  (Appendix) | Vas deferens | Ejaculatory duct  Seminal colliculus

urinary tract: Internal urethral orifice | Urethra (Prostatic, Intermediate, Spongy) | Urethral crest | Urethral gland | External urethral orifice

Penis: Corpus cavernosum | Corpus spongiosum | Navicular fossa of male urethra | Glans penis | Fundiform ligament | Suspensory ligament | Foreskin | Frenulum 

accessory glands: Seminal vesicles  (Excretory duct of seminal gland) | Prostate  (Prostatic utricle, Prostatic sinus) | Bulbourethral glands