Bartholin’s glands

The Bartholin glands (eponym in honor of the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger, who described them in the 17th century) are paired complex alveolar-tubular glands of external secretion located in the thickness of the posterior third of the labia majora.

They are homologs of the bulbourethral (cuperic) glands in males.

Etiology and pathophysiology

Histologically, the parenchyma of the gland consists of lobules lined with simple prismatic epithelium producing a clear, viscous, mucin-rich and sialoprotein-rich alkaline secretion.

The outlet duct is 1.5-2.5 cm long and is lined with transitional epithelium and opens with a punctiform opening in the navicular fossa of the vestibule, located between the hymen and labia minora.

Secretory activity is regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system and increases dramatically during sexual arousal. The main function of secretion is to lubricate (moisturize) the vaginal entrance, protect the mucosa from microtrauma and facilitate coitus.

Clinical significance

Anatomical features of the duct (narrow lumen and considerable length) predispose to its obstruction. In case of inflammatory edema or trauma, the duct mouth is blocked, but secretion continues. This leads to the accumulation of mucus and the formation of painless retention cysts, which can reach the size of a hen’s egg.

With secondary infection of the contents (more often by polymicrobial flora: E. coli, Bacteroides spp., as well as gonococci and chlamydia) purulent inflammation of the parenchyma – abscess of the bartholin gland (bartholinitis) develops. The condition is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome, fever and requires surgical treatment to restore the outflow.