Table of Contents
Accessory Glands; Accessory Glands of Male Reproductive System; Accessory Glands of Female Reproductive System
Accessory glands are a group of glands that are not essential to the reproductive system but that contribute to it in some way.
The accessory glands of the male reproductive system include the seminal vesicles, the prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands. The seminal vesicles produce a fluid that helps to nourish and transport sperm. The prostate gland produces a fluid that helps to protect and lubricate the sperm. The bulbourethral glands produce a fluid that helps to cleanse the urethra before ejaculation.
The accessory glands of the female reproductive system include the Bartholin’s glands and the two Skene’s glands. The Bartholin’s glands produce a fluid that helps to lubricate the vagina. The Skene’s glands produce a fluid that helps to cleanse the urethra and to kill bacteria.
Prostate
cancer is a cancer that affects the prostate gland. The prostate gland is a small, walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. The prostate gland produces fluid that helps to protect and lubricate the sperm as it travels through the urethra and out of the penis.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, after skin cancer. About one in six American men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prostate cancer can occur in any age group, but it is more common in older men. The chance of getting prostate cancer increases as a man gets older.
Seminal Vesicles
The seminal vesicles are a pair of pouch-like structures that secrete semen, the fluid that transports sperm. The vesicles are located behind the prostate gland and below the bladder. The fluid they secrete contains fructose, which provides energy for the sperm, and proteins that help to keep the sperm healthy.
Bulbourethral Glands
The bulbourethral glands, also called the Cowper’s glands, are two small, pea-sized organs located on the sides of the urethra, just below the prostate gland. The primary function of the bulbourethral glands is to secrete a clear, slippery fluid that helps to lubricate the urethra and the penis during sexual arousal and sexual intercourse. This fluid also contains small amounts of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland that is used as a marker for prostate cancer.
Seminal Fluid
The seminal fluid is a viscous liquid secreted by the male reproductive organs. It contains the spermatozoa and serves to transport them to the female reproductive tract, where fertilization of the egg takes place. The seminal fluid also contains various nutrients and chemicals that support sperm function and viability.
Bartholin’s Glands
The Bartholin’s glands are a pair of pea-sized glands located on each side of the vaginal opening. They secrete a fluid that helps to lubricate the vagina and keep it healthy.
Prostates
are a part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is a gland that is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The prostate makes a fluid that helps to nourish and transport sperm.
Labial, Urethral, Preputial Glands
The three types of glands that produce secretions that lubricate the penis and vagina are the:
1. Labial glands
2. Urethral glands
3. Preputial glands
