Bartholin's glands
Female secretory organs
Bartholin's glands are two small glands located on either side of the vaginal opening that secrete fluid for lubrication during sexual arousal.
They typically go unnoticed unless a duct becomes blocked, forming a Bartholin's cyst.
Named for the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger.
External female genital region
- vaginal openingVulvar entrance to vagina
- vestibuleEnclosed space between doors
- perineumArea between genitals, anus
- reproductive systemOrgans for sexual procreation
genitalia · duct · orifice · homologous
Coating to reduce friction
- mucusProtective bodily secretion
- fluidSubstance that flows
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
viscous · alkaline · pH · glycoproteins · antimicrobial · secretory · epithelium · serous
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
pain · tenderness · redness · gonorrhea · chlamydia · STI · bacteria · incision
Bodily response to attraction
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
- engorgementOverfilling causing swelling
- stimulationEvoking a response
- foreplayPre-coital intimacy
intercourse · coitus · tumescence · libido · erogenous
vulva
External female genital region
- vaginal openingVulvar entrance to vagina
- vestibuleEnclosed space between doors
- perineumArea between genitals, anus
reproductive system · genitalia · duct · orifice · homologous
lubrication
Coating to reduce friction
discharge · viscous · alkaline · pH · glycoproteins · antimicrobial · secretory · epithelium · serous · exocrine
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- blockageObstruction halting movement
obstruction · pain · tenderness · redness · gonorrhea · chlamydia · STI · bacteria · incision · drainage
sexual arousal
Bodily response to attraction
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
- engorgementOverfilling causing swelling
- stimulationEvoking a response
foreplay · intercourse · coitus · tumescence · libido · erogenous
- female anatomyvagina, vulva, uterus, ovary, ovaries
- glandspancreas, ovaries, pituitary, parathyroid, thyroid
- Anatomical EponymsAchilles tendon, Adam's apple, Fallopian tube, Fallopian tubes, Pacinian corpuscles
- vulvalabia, clitoris, vaginal opening, vestibule, outer lips