What is the Prostate?
The prostate is located below the bladder in males and is a small gland about the size of a walnut, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The urethra is the narrow tube that runs along the length of the penis, runs directly through the prostate and carries urine and semen out of the body. Seminal vesicles are two glands that sit above the prostate and secrete approximately 60 percent of the substances that make up semen. The prostate is integral to exocrine function, producing prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and urine flow. The prostate also can impact erectile function because the nerves that control erectile function run right alongside the prostate.
How It Works
The prostate gland contains an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is a responsible for male-specific characteristics such as facial hair and a deep voice. According to YourHealthBase.com, the prostate works as a muscle to propel seminal fluid through the urethra and penis through ejaculation. It also serves as a gate for urine flow in which the internal sphincter (located at the upper part of the prostate and bladder junction) and the external sphincter (located at the base of the prostate) work together to prevent incontinence and seminal fluid from shooting backward into the bladder during ejaculation.
Its Function
The prostate is considered an exocrine gland because it secretes substances through ducts to the outside of the body or into a bodily cavity, according to ProstateCenter.ca. Part of the semen is made from fluid produced by the prostate gland, which carries sperm during orgasm. The fluid is stored with sperm in the seminal vesicles. During climax, muscle contractions cause the prostate to release fluid into the urethra to the outside of the body via the penis. The prostate also produces PSA, which is released with the ejaculatory fluid and into the blood stream. If PSA is too high in the blood, it may indicate prostate cancer. The prostate helps control the flow of urine in which muscular fibers in the prostate contract to slow the flow of urine.
For men older than 50 years of age, the prostate can be a source of pain and discomfort from issues dealing with urination and pain in the pelvic region, according to YourHealthBase.com. An inflamed prostate, prostate enlargement and prostate cancer are the three most common disease conditions associated with the prostate.
