Bulbourethral gland
Gland in males to help with sperm health / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Bulbourethral gland?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The bulbourethral glands or Cowper's glands (named for English anatomist William Cowper) are two small exocrine and accessory glands in the reproductive system of many male mammals. They are homologous to Bartholin's glands in females. The bulbourethral glands are responsible for producing a pre-ejaculate fluid called Cowper's fluid (known colloquially as pre-cum), which is secreted during sexual arousal, neutralizing the acidity of the urethra in preparation for the passage of sperm cells.[1] The paired glands are found adjacent to the urethra just below the prostate, seen best by screening (medicine) MRI as a tool in 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.
Bulbourethral gland | |
---|---|
Details | |
Precursor | Urogenital sinus |
System | Male reproductive system |
Artery | Artery of the urethral bulb |
Identifiers | |
Latin | glandula bulbourethralis |
MeSH | D002030 |
TA98 | A09.3.09.001 |
TA2 | 3659 |
Anatomical terminology |
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]