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The bulbourethral glands (Cowper’s glands) are paired glands located near the base of the penis (see Diagram of Male Reproductive System – Dissected). The bulbourethral glands consist of a body and a tail. A thin connective tissue membrane separates the alveoli of the glands and supports their blood vessels. The tubules and alveoli of the body are lined by tall columnar epithelium with small, flattened nuclei; those in the tail by low columnar epithelium with round basal nuclei. Epithelium in secretory state has foamy, slightly basophilic cytoplasm, whereas epithelium in resting state (found in the tail) has granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. The bulbourethral glands have central excretory ducts, which are lined by cuboidal epithelium and open into the membranous urethra cranially to the urethral diverticulum. After copulation the mucous secretion of the bulbourethral glands together with the secretions of the seminal vesicles and prostate glands form the copulatory plug to keep semen within the vagina.
The micrographs depict the body of the bulbourethral gland. The 4X, 10X, 20X and 40X micrographs present the alveoli in increasing detail. The tall columnar epithelial cells are visible in the 20X micrograph. The 40X micrograph shows that these cells have basophilic cytoplasm and small, flattened nuclei located at the base of the cells.
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