The prostate or prostate gland is an important male sex organ. In this function, the prostate takes over regulatory processes, but it can also lead to various symptoms.
What is the prostate gland?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy of a healthy prostate and an enlarged prostate. Click to enlarge. The prostate gland is also known as the prostate gland. The prostate is a sex gland found in male humans and male mammals. The prostate gland belongs to the so-called internal sex organs and has muscle fibers, glands and connective tissue rich in vessels. The prostate is surrounded by a firm capsule of connective tissue. In humans, the prostate is located between the urinary bladder and the pelvic floor, surrounding the beginning part of the urethra. The prostate gland is also firmly attached to the lower edge of the pubic bone. Behind the prostate is the rectum. Through the prostate runs the so-called spurting duct, which conducts the ejaculate during ejaculation. In a healthy person, the prostate is approximately the size of a chestnut and weighs about 20 grams.
Significance and function
One of the main functions of the prostate is the production of a fertilizing fluid in the form of a secretion. Formed this secretion in men about the onset of puberty. Among other things, the fertilization fluid of the prostate contains proteins that help to liquefy the sperm. In addition, the prostate’s fertilization fluid contains what is known as spermine; among other things, spermine is responsible for protecting DNA. The secretion of the prostate has an approximate pH of 6.4, and this pH increases sperm survival during intercourse because the environment of the female vagina is acidic to provide protection against infection. Due to its location, the prostate gland also assists in the closure of the urinary bladder. During urination, the prostate helps to ensure that the spurting ducts are closed to prevent urine from entering. During sexual intercourse, sperm and secretions enter the part of the urethra surrounded by the prostate. This is where the prostate secretion, which makes up about 20-30 percent of the total amount of sperm, enters. In this process, the prostate gland helps to prevent the resulting seminal fluid from entering the urinary bladder. Furthermore, the prostate gland also plays an important role in a man’s hormone metabolism. For example, the prostate gland converts the sex hormone testosterone into a biologically very active form. This active form is called dihydrotestosterone.
Dangers, disorders, risks, and diseases
Diseases of the prostate usually manifest themselves in symptoms that may be relatively indeterminate. Most often, these symptoms affect the function of urination and sexual function. If urination is affected by the prostate, this is also known in medicine as micturition dysfunction. This influence of the prostate is possible, among other things, because the prostate supports the bladder closure. Typical symptoms include a delayed onset of urination, a weakening of the urine stream to the point of dribbling, or a residual urine formation that causes the feeling that not all of the urine has been emptied. Injuries of the prostate can be expressed, for example, by a urinary hemorrhage, that is, by an admixture of blood to the urine. If the prostate is affected by inflammation (this is called prostatitis), blood may be present in the semen, among other things. This can also be caused by a so-called benign prostate syndrome (BPS), which occurs mainly in middle-aged to older men. In most cases, however, such a blood content in the semen is harmless. Benign prostatic syndrome (BPS) describes symptoms associated with obstruction of urine flow through the prostate. This condition increases with age. One of the causes is a benign enlarged prostate. Treatment is possible with medication or surgery. Prostate cancer or prostate carcinoma is a malignant tumor that usually originates from the external prostate glands. In the early stages, prostate cancer can often be cured by radiation or surgery. Among men, prostate cancer is the most common form of malignant tumor. The causes of prostate cancer cell development are largely unclear.
