Prostate

The prostate gland is an organ of the male reproductive tract that lies just below and in front of the urinary bladder. Urine passes through the prostate gland inside the urethra before it leaves the body. The prostate gland contains many ducts that store and secrete seminal fluid, which helps convey the sperm cells needed for reproduction. The prostate gland sometimes becomes enlarged and squeezes the urethra, a fact of considerable clinical importance. Cancer of the prostate is also an important concern for older men.

Description

The prostate gland's size varies considerably between individuals; however, in most men it is about 5 cm in diameter but is influenced by age, race, and ethnicity.^[1] The gland surrounds the urethra between the urinary bladder and the penis. The prostate is located right in front of the rectum, which allows physicians to estimate the size and consistency of the gland by digital rectal examination. The prostate is made up of numerous glands that make, store, and release specialized fluid, as well as muscle cells that push the fluid into the urethra during ejaculation. Because of its location, prostate diseases often affect urination, ejaculation, and rarely defecation. The prostate contains many small glands which make about twenty percent of the fluid constituting semen.

Role of the Prostate

The function of the prostate is to store and secrete a portion of the semen that is released during ejaculation.. The prostatic fluid improves the motility and survival of the spermatozoa. Dihydrotestosterone, an important sex hormone, is converted from testosterone within the prostate itself, suggesting that the gland is part of the male endocrine system as well as the reproductive system.

Diseases of the Prostate

Three main classes of problems affect the prostate gland: inflammation, hypertrophy, and cancer. ‘’’Prostatitis’’’ (inflammation of the prostate) is usually due to bacterial infection, and typically causes painful urination and regional discomfort. Most cases are caused by E. coli or other bacteria that normally live on the skin or in the intestine. Most cases of prostatitis are treated with antibiotics. Hypertrophy, also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, (BPH) is so common that some people regard it as part of the normal aging process. This results from overgrowth of cells, which lead near the urethra, and frequently causes difficulty in urination. Several drugs are available to treat BPH. Some men with severe symptoms are candidates for a surgical procedure known as transurethral resection of the prostate which involves cutting and removing parts of the prostate gland via the urethra. Prostate cancer is the most important disease of the prostate; prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men at the second-leading cause of cancer death. Almost all cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in men over age 50. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer continue to improve survival rates and patients’ quality of life.

Related Professions

Diseases of the prostate are usually diagnosed and treated by urologists, who are physicians that specialize in diseases of the kidney, bladder, and surrounding structures.

References

1. ↑ Jin B, Turner L, Zhou Z, Zhou EL, Handelsman DJ. Ethnicity and migration as determinants of human prostate size. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Oct;84(10):3613-9.Abstract