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Bulbourethral gland

 

 
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Bulbourethral gland
 
 
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A bulbourethral gland, also called a Cowper's gland for anatomist William Cowper
William Cowper (anatomist)

William Cowper, Fellow of the Royal Society was an English surgery and anatomist, famous for his early description of what is now known as the Cowper's gland....
, is one of two small exocrine gland
Gland

A gland is an Organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface ....
s present in the reproductive system
Reproductive system

The reproductive system is a system of Organ within an organism which work together for the purpose of reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the reproductive system....
 of human males. They are homologous
Homology (biology)

In evolutionary biology, homology refers to any similarity between characteristics that is due to their common descent. The word homologous derives from the ancient Greek ??????e??, 'to agree'....
 to Bartholin's gland
Bartholin's gland

The Bartholin's glands are two glands located slightly below and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina in women. They were first described in the 17th century, by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger ....
s in females.

ourethral 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.






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A bulbourethral gland, also called a Cowper's gland for anatomist William Cowper
William Cowper (anatomist)

William Cowper, Fellow of the Royal Society was an English surgery and anatomist, famous for his early description of what is now known as the Cowper's gland....
, is one of two small exocrine gland
Gland

A gland is an Organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface ....
s present in the reproductive system
Reproductive system

The reproductive system is a system of Organ within an organism which work together for the purpose of reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the reproductive system....
 of human males. They are homologous
Homology (biology)

In evolutionary biology, homology refers to any similarity between characteristics that is due to their common descent. The word homologous derives from the ancient Greek ??????e??, 'to agree'....
 to Bartholin's gland
Bartholin's gland

The Bartholin's glands are two glands located slightly below and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina in women. They were first described in the 17th century, by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger ....
s in females.

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 transverse fibers of the sphincter urethrae membranaceae muscle.

Structure

The bulbourethral glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands, each approximately the size of a pea
Pea

A pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the legume Pisum sativum. Each pod contains several peas. Although treated as a vegetable in cooking, it is botanically a fruit....
. They are composed of several lobules
Lobe

The term lobe generally refers to a projecting part of an object, but it can have more specific meanings.* In biology, lobe * In telecommunication, the term lobe has the following meanings: ...
 held together by a fibrous covering. Each lobule consists of a number of acini, lined by columnar epithelial cells
Epithelium

In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
, opening into a duct
Duct (anatomy)

In anatomy and physiology, a duct is a circumscribed channel leading from an exocrine gland or Organ .Types of ductsExamples include:...
 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 gradually diminish in size with advancing age.

Function

During sexual arousal
Sexual arousal

Sexual arousal is the the arousal of sexual desires in preparation for sexual behavior....
 each gland produces a clear, viscous secretion known as pre-ejaculate
Pre-ejaculate

Pre-ejaculate is the clear, colorless, viscosity fluid that emits from the urethra of a man's penis when he is sexually aroused....
. This fluid helps to lubricate the urethra for spermatozoa to pass through, it neutralizes traces of acid
Acid

An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that, when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a hydrogen ion Activity greater than in pure water, i.e....
ic urine
Urine

Urine is a liquid waste product of the body secreted by the kidneys by a process of filtration from blood called urination and excreted through the urethra....
 in urethra, and helps flush out any residual urine or foreign matter. It is possible for this fluid to pick up sperm
Sperm

The term sperm is derived from the Greek word sperma and refers to the male reproductive Cell . In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell....
, remaining in the urethral bulb from previous ejaculation
Ejaculation

Ejaculation is the ejecting of semen from the penis, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. It is usually the result of sexual stimulation. Rarely, it is due to prostatic disease....
s, and carry them out prior to the next ejaculation.

Additional images


See also

  • List of homologues of the human reproductive system
    List of homologues of the human reproductive system

    The List of Homology of the human reproductive system shows how indifferent embryonic organ s differentiate into the respective sex organs in males and females....


External links