Anal Glands

Anal Glands, pouches from the end of the intestine beside the anus. They occur especially in mammals, but also in snakes, lizards, and other reptiles, and in some invertebrates, such as insects, and consist of cells which exhibit a special development of the general glandular properties so abundantly associated with the skin. It is impossible to draw any hard and fast line between true anal glands and the numerous glandular pouches occurring in various parts of the body—e.g. head, back, groin, limbs, and external generative organs. The secretion of the glandular cells has usually a strong smell, and a fatty or oily composition. They are sometimes of protective advantage, and in other cases doubtless auxiliary to sexual attraction. See GLANDS, SKIN, MUSK GLANDS, BEAVER, CIVET, SKUNK.