The prostate is an internal male sex organ. Due to its position and function, doctors often refer to it as the prostate gland. The term prostate is derived from the Greek term prostates. The Greeks used this term to refer to a progenitor or a front man. Doctors mainly chose this term because of the position of the prostate. Viewed from the outside, it lies directly in front of the urethra and acts as a bouncer. It ensures that sperm and urine never pass through the urethra at the same time.
Not only humans have this organ, but also all other mammals. Basically, it is an accessory sex gland. It usually weighs around 30 grams and is the size of a chestnut.
The most important task of the prostate is to produce a special secretion. Together with the sperm cells and the fluids from several other glands , it forms sperm. In addition to many other anatomical structures, the prostate gland has powerful muscles that accelerate the sperm during orgasm. In this way, it transports it out of the penis through the urethra.
The prostate gland is located directly below the bladder. It nestles completely against the muscles of the pelvic floor. The rectum is located directly behind the prostate. For this reason, it can be easily felt with a finger via the bowel. The pubic symphysis delimits the prostate towards the abdomen. A separate ligament connects the pubic symphysis and the prostate gland with the urinary bladder muscle.
The position of the prostate © Henrie / Fotolia
The prostate is also located directly at the neck of the bladder. It completely surrounds the urethra. For this reason, many prostate diseases often cause problems with urination. In addition, the paired syringe channel also runs through the prostate. More than 70% of the semen flows through this duct during ejaculation.
The entire prostate is surrounded by an elastic connective tissue capsule. However, this does not only consist of connective tissue, but also contains many smooth muscles. For this reason, the prostate feels very soft and elastic on palpation. There are also many muscle cells inside the prostate gland. These contract during ejaculation and forcefully push the stored secretions into the urethra. Due to the high acceleration, the secretion from the prostate carries all the sperm as well as many other fluids out of the penis.
Doctors generally divide the prostate gland into three main layers. These are wrapped around the urethra like onion skins.
- The core of the prostate comprises just over ten percent of the total volume. This is located directly on the urethra and makes up the smallest part of the prostate gland. This so-called mantle zone therefore surrounds the entire upper third of the urethra.
- The mantle zone is followed by the inner zone . This comprises around 20 percent of the total volume of the prostate and also consists almost exclusively of smooth muscle cells. This area contains the so-called prostatic duct. This is a duct that is shared by the prostate, the seminal vesicles and the vas deferens and which opens into the urethra.
- The outer zone of the prostate gland is its main part. Approximately 70 percent of the total tissue mass is located there. This area contains all peripheral glandular sections and is mainly responsible for the production of prostate secretions.
The prostate gland is not only important for human reproduction, but also performs many other tasks. The main functions are as follows:
- Formation of prostate secretions
- Closure of the seminal ducts during urination
- Closure of the bladder during ejaculation
- Contribution to hormone metabolism
However, the most important function of the prostate is the formation of prostate secretions. Together with the secretion from the seminal vesicle and the sperm cells from the testicles, it forms semen with many other fluids. All secretions finally mix in the urethra. The prostate secretion is particularly important for successful reproduction. It ensures the functionality of the sperm cells and therefore has a major influence on fertility. This milky fluid contains, among other things, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which makes the sperm much thinner. It also contains large quantities of sperm, which ensures greater sperm motility.
During ejaculation, the muscles of the prostate ensure complete closure of the bladder. In this way, it also ensures that no urine enters the semen and that no sperm enters the bladder.
In addition, the prostate gland also closes the urinary canal during urination to prevent urine from entering. In this way, it comprehensively prevents inflammation and infections.
Finally, it also plays a major role in hormone metabolism . The prostate gland converts the male sex hormone testosterone into another form, making it more usable for the body. This produces the biologically active form di-hydro-testosterone (DHT).
There are numerous serious diseases of the prostate gland. However, most of these diseases only occur very rarely and are mainly dependent on hereditary factors. Nevertheless, some prostate diseases are relatively common, especially over the age of 40. These are mainly
In the case of prostatitis , those affected suffer from severe pain in the lower abdomen and problems urinating. Medicine distinguishes between two variations of the disease. It can be bacterial or abacterial. However, the causes of chronic prostatitis are not yet known. However, acute inflammation usually occurs after a prostate examination or sexual stimulation of the prostate gland.
At an advanced age, the tissue of the mantle zone continues to be prone to benign growths. However, problems with urination rarely occur. These occur when the enlarged mantle zone exerts pressure on the urinary bladder outlet.
© picture dwarf
However, a malignant tumor usually develops in the outer zone of the prostate gland. If left untreated, this disease is often fatal. In Germany alone, three percent of all men die as a result of prostate cancer. It is also one of the most common cancers that occur in men. Within the group of cancer deaths, it is responsible for ten percent of all deaths.
