Discover

A 'bulbourethral gland' (or 'Cowper's gland') is one of two small exocrine glands present in the reproductive system of human males. They are homologous to Bartholin's glands in females.

Contents

Location

Structure

Function

Additional images

See also

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 the transverse fibers of the sphincter urethrae membranaceae muscle.

Structure

The bulbourethral glands are compound tubuloalveolar glands, each approximately the size of a pea. 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 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 appear to gradually diminish in size as age advances.

Function

During sexual arousal each gland produces a clear, viscous secretion known as pre-ejaculate. This fluid helps to lubricate the urethra for spermatozoa to pass through, and to help flush out any residual urine or foreign matter. It is possible for this fluid to pick up sperm, remaining in the urethral bulb from previous ejaculations, and carry them out prior to the next ejaculation. This is one reason for the relative ineffectiveness of coitus interruptus, or "pulling out", as a contraceptive method; at any time the penis is erect, sperm may be traveling out of the urethral opening. . Preejaculatory fluid secreted at the tip of the urethra from Cowper's gland during sexual stimulation did not contain sperm and therefore cannot be responsible for pregnancies during coitus interruptus as found in Springer Netherlands study.

Additional images

See also

★ List of homologues of the human reproductive system