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• What is the prostate and where is it?
• What does the prostate do?
• What controls the prostate gland?

What is the prostate and where is it?

The prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut, which lies just below the bladder. The tube draining the bladder, called the urethra, passes through the centre of the gland to the penis. 

Valves mechanisms, also called the sphincters maintain continence and stop urine leaking out of the bladder. They are located just above and below the prostate gland. The one above, the internal sphincter is incorporated in to the bladder tissues. The one below, the external sphincter, tends to be the most important.

 

 

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What does the prostate do?

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It develops at puberty and continues to enlarge throughout life. The prostate gland acts rather like a junction box. It allows the tubes that transport sperm from each testicle, and the tubes that drain from the seminal vesicles to meet and then empty their contents in to the urethra. (The seminal vesicles consist of two pouches that provide nutrients for the sperm and lie immediately behind the prostate). 

At the point of orgasm sperm, seminal vesicle fluid and prostatic secretions enter the urethra and mix together forming semen. This is then ejaculated out through the penis by rhythmic muscular contractions. 

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What controls the prostate gland?

The growth of the prostate is controlled by testosterone, the male sex hormone. Most testosterone is made by the testicles, although a small amount is also made by the adrenal glands, which lie on top of each kidney. The hormone goes in to the blood stream and finds its way to the prostate. Here it is changed in to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more active form that stimulates growth of the gland.

The prostate gradually enlarges with ageing under the influence of DHT resulting in symptoms such as a reduced urinary flow and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder having passed urine. This enlargement is usually benign (non-cancerous).

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Further Reading on Prostate Cancer is available at the Prostate Cancer Centres website

Part of the Prostate Cancer Centre Network