Bulbourethral gland

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Bulbus glandis.
Bulbourethral gland
preventative healthcare in males. Screening MRI may be performed when there is a positive prostate-specific antigen on basic laboratory tests. Prostate cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer-related mortality in males
in the USA.

Most species of placental mammals have bulbourethral glands, but they are absent in whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are the only accessory reproductive glands in male monotremes. Placental mammals usually have 1 pair of bulbourethral glands,[2] while male marsupials have 1–3 pairs.[2][3] Of all domesticated animals, they are absent only in dogs.[4]

Location

Bulbourethral glands are located posterior and lateral to the membranous portion of the

sphincter urethrae membranaceae
muscle.

Structure

Dissection of prostate showing the bulbourethral glands within the fibers of the external urethral sphincter just underneath the prostate

The bulbourethral glands are compound

boars, they are up to 18 cm long and 5 cm in diameter.[4] 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 that 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 bulbar urethra at the base of the penis. The glands gradually diminish in size with advancing age.[6][unreliable source
]

Function

Secretory fluid from the bulbourethral glands appearing on the glans of a human penis

The bulbourethral gland contributes up to 4 ml of fluid during sexual arousal.[7] The secretion is a clear fluid rich in mucoproteins that help to lubricate the distal urethra and neutralize any acidic urine residue that remains in the urethra.

According to one preliminary study, the bulbourethral gland fluid might not contain any sperm,[8] whereas another study showed some men did leak sperm in potentially significant quantities (in a range from low counts up to 50 million sperm per ml) into the pre-ejaculatory fluid,[7] potentially leading to conception from the introduction of pre-ejaculate. However, the sperm source is a residual or pre-ejaculatory leak from the testicles into the vasa deferentia,[7] rather than from the bulbourethral gland itself.[8]

Gallery

  • Structure of the penis
    Structure of the penis
  • Male pelvic organs seen from right side
    Male pelvic organs seen from right side
  • Vertical section of bladder, penis, and urethra
    Vertical section of bladder, penis, and urethra
  • Bulbourethral gland labeled at center left
    Bulbourethral gland labeled at center left

See also

References

  1. ^ "What is pre-ejaculatory fluid (also known as pre-cum), and can it cause pregnancy?". International Planned Parenthood Federation. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-108-69949-5
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-521-33792-2
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-323-13804-8
    . Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  5. ISBN 978-0-19-504371-6
    . Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  6. ^ Gray's Anatomy, 38th ed., p 1861.
  7. ^
    PMID 21155689
    .
  8. ^
    PMID 12762415
    .
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