prostate

Also known as prostate gland

The prostate is an accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found in all male mammals. It differs between species anatomically, chemically, and physiologically. Anatomically, the prostate is found below the bladder, with the urethra passing through it. It is described in gross anatomy as consisting of lobes and in microanatomy by zone. It is surrounded by an elastic, fibromuscular capsule and contains glandular and connective tissue.

AI overview

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located below the bladder that acts as a mechanical switch controlling whether urine or ejaculate passes through the urethra. It's made up of glandular and connective tissue surrounded by a fibrous capsule, and its structure varies across different male mammal species.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Anatomy.Name: Prostate
Anatomy.Latin: prostata
Anatomy.Greek: προστάτης
Anatomy.Image: Prostatelead.jpg
Anatomy.Precursor: Endodermic evaginations of the urethra, urogenital sinus
Anatomy.System: Male reproductive system
Anatomy.Artery: Internal pudendal artery, inferior vesical artery, and middle rectal artery
Anatomy.Vein: Prostatic venous plexus, pudendal plexus, vesical plexus, internal iliac vein
Anatomy.Nerve: Inferior hypogastric plexus
Anatomy.Lymph: Internal iliac lymph nodes

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Research

306,945 papers

The role of the prostate in male fertility, health and disease.ReviewNature reviews. Urology · 2016Verze P, Cai T, Lorenzetti SDOI: 10.1038/nrurol.2016.89
Nutritional and surgical aspects in prostate disorders.ReviewCritical reviews in food science and nutrition · 2023Gasmi A, Bjørklund G, Noor S et al.DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.2013158
Implications of prostate inflammation on male fertility.ReviewAndrologia · 2018Motrich RD, Salazar FC, Breser ML et al.DOI: 10.1111/and.13093
Prostate ultrasonography.ReviewSeminars in roentgenology · 1993Hamper UM, Sheth SDOI: 10.1016/s0037-198x(05)80113-0
The microbiome in prostate inflammation and prostate cancer.ReviewProstate cancer and prostatic diseases · 2018Porter CM, Shrestha E, Peiffer LB et al.DOI: 10.1038/s41391-018-0041-1
Influence of microbiome in intraprostatic inflammation and prostate cancer.ReviewThe Prostate · 2024Prakash P, Verma S, Gupta SDOI: 10.1002/pros.24756
Chronic inflammation in benign prostatic hyperplasia: Pathophysiology and treatment options.ReviewInternational journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association · 2024Inamura S, Terada NDOI: 10.1111/iju.15518
Prostate growth and inflammation.ReviewThe Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology · 2008Sciarra A, Mariotti G, Salciccia S et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2007.09.013

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Wikidata facts

Image: Prostate - Gray1153.png

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Commons category: Prostate
NCI Thesaurus ID: C12410

Sources (9)

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~28 min read

Article

24 sections

Contents

Structure
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Microanatomy
Gene and protein expression
Development
Function
In ejaculation
In urination
In stimulation
Clinical significance
Inflammation
Prostate enlargement
Cancer
Surgery
Transmasculine individuals
History
Other animals
Skene's gland
See also
References
Citations
Sources
Attribution
External links

The prostate produces and contains fluid that forms part of semen, the substance emitted during ejaculation as part of the male sexual response. This prostatic fluid is slightly alkaline, and milky or white in appearance. The alkalinity of semen helps neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract, prolonging the lifespan of sperm. The prostatic fluid is expelled in the first part of ejaculate, together with most of the sperm, because of the action of smooth muscle tissue within the prostate. In comparison with the few spermatozoa expelled together with mainly seminal vesicular fluid, those in prostatic fluid have better motility, longer survival, and better protection of genetic material.