Bartholin's gland
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Overview
The Bartholin’s glands (also called Bartholin glands or greater vestibular glands) are two glands located slightly below and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina in women. They secrete mucus to provide lubrication.[1][2]
Bartholin’s glands are homologous to Cowper’s glands in males. However, while Bartholin’s glands are located in the superficial perineal pouch, Cowper’s glands are located in the deep perineal pouch.

Eponym
Eponym
They were first described in the 17th century, by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger (1655-1738). Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Elder (1585 – 1629).[3][4]
References
References
- ↑ Viscera of the Urogenital Triangle, University of Arkansas Medical School
- ↑ Chrétien, F.C. (Sept. 18, 2006). “Crystallographic investigation of the dried exudate of the major vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands in women”. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. PMID 16987591. Unknown parameter
|coauthors=ignored (help); Check date values in:|date=(help);|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ C. C. Gillispie (ed.): Dictionary of Scientific Biography, New York 1970. See the article on Thomas Bartholin.
- ↑ Template:WhoNamedIt
See also
See also
External links
External links
- Template:SUNYAnatomyLabs – “The Female Perineum: Muscles of the Superficial Perineal Pouch”
- Template:SUNYAnatomyImage
- Template:SUNYAnatomyImage – opening
- Template:EMedicineDictionary
Template:Female reproductive system
cs:Bartholiniho žláza da:Bartholinske kirtler de:Glandula vestibularis major dv:ބާރތޮލިން ގްލޭންޑް id:Kelenjar Bartholin it:Ghiandole di Bartolini lt:Bartolino liauka nl:Klier van Bartholin simple:Bartholin’s gland fi:Bartholinin rauhaset sv:Bartholins körtlar
Looking for the patient version?
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH
