Prostate

The significant sex gland of the male human reproductive system is known as prostated. The basic function of this gland is to store and secrete a transparent liquid that makes up to a good portion of the total amount of semen. The prostate is different in structure, chemical component and anatomy when it comes to different species of human males across the globe.

If we speak about the healthy human prostate, it is just a bit larger than the actual size of a walnut. This gland circumscribes the urethra, under the urinary bladder and one can easily feel its presence, size and shape when conducting a prostate exam.

The prostate gland requires to be in perfect health and devoid of any tumor in order to work properly.

There are two typical functions that are carried out by the male urethra. Functions of the Male Urethra:

• It carries urine from the bladder during urination.
• It carries semen during ejaculation.

The urethra that comes from the bladder, within the prostate, is known as the prostatic urethra and then amalgamates with the two ejaculatory ducts.

Semen is a combination of sperm and seminal fluid; about a good percentage of this fluid is generated by the much valuable prostate gland. The rest of the fluid is produced with the help of two seminal vesicles.

The prostate also contains certain smooth muscles that facilitates expelling semen during the process of ejaculation. Talking about the prostate gland secretions, they vary between species. These secretions are generally composed the following components:

• Simple sugars
• Less than 1% protein
• Proteolytic enzymes
• Acid phosphatase
• Prostate-specific antigen
• Zinc
• Citric acid.

The proper functioning of the prostate gland takes place with the assistance of male hormones (androgens) and these are responsible for typical male sex characteristics. Testosterone is the main male hormone and it is produced mainly by the testicles. Some of these male hormones are generated in little amounts via adrenal glands. The anatomical structure of the prostate gland is a clear representation of the transformed wall of the significant portion of the male urethra and usually develops by the embryo's life in its 9th week.

The adult prostate gland is a result of condensation of mesenchyme, Woolfian ducts and urethra.

Prostate gland possesses four distinct zones. Two of these zones origin from different prostatic's segments of urethra. These segments are as mentioned below:

• The peripheral zone
• The central zone
• The transition zone
• The anterior fibro-muscular zone

Men, who have aged, often develop corpora amylacea, thick collection of calcified proteinaceous contents in their prostatral ducts. This may be a cause of obstruction to lumens of the prostatic ducts.