It is possible to feel the prostate gland by placing a finger into the rectum and pressing toward the front of the body. The urethra, a tube that carries urine and semen out of the body, passes through the prostate. Because the prostate surrounds this tube, prostate problems can affect urine flow. This organ is one part of male sexual, or reproductive, anatomy.
The other parts include the penis, scrotum, and testes. The prostate is not essential for life, but it is important for fertility. The following sections discuss the functions of the prostate.
The primary function of the prostate is to contribute prostatic fluid to semen. Prostatic fluid contains components that make semen an ideal substance for sperm cells to live in, including enzymes, zinc, and citric acid. One important enzyme is prostate-specific antigen PSA , which helps make the semen thinner and more fluid.
The fluid in semen helps the sperm travel down the urethra and survive the journey towards an egg, which is essential for reproduction. Prostatic fluid is slightly acidic, but other components of semen make it alkaline overall.
This is to counteract the acidity of the vagina and protect the sperm from damage. During ejaculation, the prostate contracts and squirts prostatic fluid into the urethra. Here, it mixes with sperm cells and fluid from the seminal vesicles to create semen, which the body then expels. When the prostate contracts during ejaculation, it closes off the opening between the bladder and urethra, pushing semen through at speed. This is why, in normal anatomic situations, it is impossible to urinate and ejaculate simultaneously.
The prostate needs androgens, which are male sex hormones, such as testosterone to function correctly. The prostate contains an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into a biologically active form called dihydrotestosterone DHT. This hormone is important for normal prostate development and function.
In the developing male, it is crucial for the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as facial hair. A capsule of connective tissue that contains muscle fibers surrounds the prostate. This capsule makes the prostate feel elastic to the touch. Scientists often categorize the prostate into four zones that surround the urethra like layers of an onion. The following layers make up the prostate, beginning with the outer capsule and ending inside the prostate:. Prostate conditions often cause problems with urination or bladder control.
These may include the following:. Prostate problems can also cause problems with sexual function, urinary tract infections , bladder stones , or in extreme cases, kidney failure. A person should see their doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms :.
The neurovascular bundle is a collection of nerves and blood vessels that run along each side of the prostate, and helps to control erectile function. In some men, these nerves run a short distance away from the prostate, but in others, they attach to the prostate itself. The bladder is like a balloon that gets larger as it fills with urine. The urethra, a narrow tube that connects to the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate and along the length of the penis, carrying both urine and semen out of the body.
It is the hose that drains the bladder. The rectum, which sits right behind the prostate, is the lower end of the intestines and connects to the anus. Prostate Zones The prostate is divided into several anatomic regions, or zones. Most prostate cancer starts in the peripheral zone the back of the prostate , near the rectum.
Difficulty with urination is usually not a symptom of prostate cancer. In most cases, lower urinary tract symptoms are due to Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy BPH , which is a non-cancerous prostate condition that typically develops from the transition zone that surrounds the urethra, or urinary tube closer to the middle of the prostate. Keep on top of the latest news about prostate health.
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