Skene's gland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Skene's gland | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Human female internal reproductive anatomy. (Skene's gland not labeled, but region is visible.) | |
| Gray's | subject #252 1213 |
| Precursor | Wolffian duct |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | g_06/12391811 |
In human anatomy, the Skene's glands (also known as the lesser vestibular, periurethral glands, or paraurethral glands[1]) are glands located on the upper wall of the vagina, around the lower end of the urethra. They drain into the urethra and near the urethral opening.
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[edit] Homology and possible functions
The location of the Skene's glands is also known as the Gräfenberg spot or G-spot; the general area is the urethral sponge.
The Skene's glands are homologous with the prostate gland in males.[2]
Some believe that the Skene's glands are the source of female ejaculation. In 2002, Emanuele Jannini of L'Aquila University in Italy showed that there may be an explanation both for the phenomenon and for the frequent denials of its existence. Skene's glands have highly variable anatomy, and in some extreme cases they appear to be missing entirely. If Skene's glands are the cause of female ejaculation and g-spot orgasms, this may explain the observed absence of these phenomena in many women.[3][4]
The milky fluid that emerges during female ejaculation is alleged to have a composition similar to the fluid generated in males by the prostate gland.[5]
[edit] Eponym
The glands were named after the physician who described them first, Alexander Skene.[6]
[edit] See also
- Female ejaculation
- Vaginal orgasm
- G-spot
- Prostate
- Pudendal nerve
- Bartholin's gland
- Wolffian duct
- List of homologues of the human reproductive system
[edit] References
- ^ Dorlands/Elsevier g_06/12391811
- ^ Zaviacic M, Jakubovská V, Belosovic M, Breza J (2000). "Ultrastructure of the normal adult human female prostate gland (Skene's gland).". Anat Embryol (Berl) 201 (1): 51-61. PMID 10603093.
- ^ Jannini E, Simonelli C, Lenzi A (2002). "Sexological approach to ejaculatory dysfunction.". Int J Androl 25 (6): 317-23. PMID 12406363.
- ^ Jannini E, Simonelli C, Lenzi A (2002). "Disorders of ejaculation.". J Endocrinol Invest 25 (11): 1006-19. PMID 12553564.
- ^ Kratochvíl S (1994). "Orgasmic expulsions in women". Cesk Psychiatr 90 (2): 71-7. PMID 8004685.
- ^ synd/2038 at Who Named It
- The paraurethral glands in scientific literature
- New Scientist story
- Sexuality.org G-spot information page
