The prostate is a walnut-sized gland lying just below the bladder and in front of the rectum, wrapped around the first part of the urethra. It is made of glandular tissue set in smooth muscle and fibrous tissue. Its milky, slightly acidic fluid makes up about a quarter of the volume of semen.
| Location | In the lesser pelvis, below the bladder neck, above the pelvic floor, behind the pubic symphysis and in front of the rectum |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Prostatic plexus (from the inferior hypogastric plexus); Pelvic splanchnic nerves S2-S4 (parasympathetic); Sympathetic fibres T11-L2 |
| Blood Supply | Inferior vesical artery (prostatic branches); Middle rectal artery; Internal pudendal artery |
| Venous drainage | |
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Secretes a fluid containing PSA, citrate and zinc that liquefies semen and supports sperm, and its smooth muscle helps expel semen during ejaculation.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, a non-cancerous enlargement, is very common with age and causes a weak stream, frequency and night-time urination. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men; it is checked with PSA blood tests, rectal examination, MRI and biopsy. The back of the prostate can be felt through the rectal wall, which is why digital rectal examination is used. Its venous plexus connects with spinal veins, which helps explain spread of prostate cancer to the spine.
Non-cancerous growth of the transition zone that narrows the urethra, causing lower urinary tract symptoms and sometimes retention.
A common, often slow-growing adenocarcinoma, usually in the peripheral zone, that may spread to bone, particularly the spine.
Acute bacterial or chronic inflammation of the prostate, causing pelvic, perineal or urinary pain.
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