Anatomy:
The
prostate
is a
gland of
the male
reproductive
system
that is
located
in front
of the
rectum
and just
below
the
bladder.
The
prostate
is small
and
weighs
about 15
to 25
grams.
It is
about
the same
size and
shape as
a
walnut.
The
prostate
is
wrapped
around a
tube
called
the
urethra,
which
carries
urine
from the
bladder
out
through
the tip
of the
penis.
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The
prostate
is made
up
largely
of
muscular
and
glandular
tissues.
Its main
function
is to
produce
fluid
for
semen,
which
transports
sperm.
During
the male
orgasm
(climax),
muscular
contractions
squeeze
the
prostate's
fluid
into the
urethra.
Sperm,
which
are
produced
in the
testicles,
are also
propelled
into the
urethra
during
orgasm.
The
sperm-containing
semen
leaves
the
penis
during
ejaculation.
Pathophysiology:
Although
not
technically
part of
the
urinary
system,
the
prostate
gland is
important
to the
urinary
health.
That's
because
the
prostate
surrounds
the top
portion
of the
tube
that
carries
urine
from the
bladder
(the
urethra).
Normally,
the
location
of the
prostate
gland
isn't a
problem.
But
infection
or
inflammation
can
cause
the
gland to
swell,
squeezing
the
urethra
and
affecting
the
ability
to
urinate.
That's
exactly
what
happens
in
prostatitis,
although
the
cause of
the
inflammation
depends
on the
type of
prostatitis |
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