Prostate Anatomy

Question 1

What size and shape is the prostate gland?

Answer 1

• It is about the size of a walnut, 3cm long, 4cm wide.
• Has a base and an apex.
• The base is superiorly below the bladder and inferiorly on the urogenital diaphragm
• Posteriorly it is next to the rectum

Question 2

What is the prostate made up of?

Answer 2

• A fibro-muscular gland
• known as a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland
• surrounded by a fibrous capsule
• enclosed by a fibrous sheath
• It surrounds the prostatic urethra
• Contains two ejaculatory ducts which pierce the upper posterior surface and open into the prostatic urethra

Question 3

What is the structure of the prostate?

Answer 3

• It is divided into 5 lobes though often considered as 2

- The prostatic urethra is approx 3cm long, and is the widest section of the urethra

Question 4

How is blood supplied to the prostate?

Answer 4

• the inferior vesical artery and the middle rectal artery supply the prostate, they are supplied by the internal iliac artery
• The prostatic venous plexus are located between the capsule and fibrous sheath. It is continuously supplied by the vesical venous plexus and internal vertebral venous plexus
• It receives bloods from the dorsal vein of the penis and many vesical veins which drain to the internal iliac vein

Question 5

Which nodes are likely to be involved in nodal spread from the prostate?

Answer 5

• Internal iliac
• hypogastric
• presacral
• perivesicle
• external iliac

Question 6

Where does the nerve supply come from for the prostate?

Answer 6

• hypogastric plexus

- sympathetic nerves stimulate contraction of the smooth muscle during ejaculation

Question 7

What is the function of the prostate gland?

Answer 7

• To store liquid which nourishes sperm
• Forms 25% of semen
• contains a natural antibiotic