Prostate gland

Question 1

what is the prostate gland?

Answer 1

the largest accessory gland in the male reproductive system

Question 2

what is the function of the prostate gland?

Answer 2

It secretes proteolytic enzymes into the semen, which act to break down clotting factors in the ejaculate

Question 3

why is breaking down clotting factors in the ejaculate needed?

Answer 3

allows the semen to remain in a fluid state, moving throughout the female reproductive tract for potential fertilisation

Question 4

size of prostate?

Answer 4

roughly walnut

Question 5

composition of the prostate?

Answer 5

Roughly two-thirds of the prostate is glandular in structure and the remaining third is fibromuscular

Question 6

what is the prostate gland surrounded by?

Answer 6

the fibrous capsule of the prostate

Question 7

where is the prostate positioned?

Answer 7

inferiorly to the neck of the bladder and superiorly to the external urethral sphincter

Question 8

where is the levator ani muscle in relation to the prostate?

Answer 8

with the levator ani muscle lying inferolaterally to the gland

Question 9

posterior to the prostate lies what? significance?

Answer 9

the ampulla of the rectum – this anatomical arrangement is utilised during Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE) by physicians needing to examine the gland

Question 10

The proteolytic enzymes leave the prostate via what?

Answer 10

the prostatic ducts

Question 11

what do the prostatic ducts open into?

Answer 11

the prostatic portion of the urethra, secreting the enzymes into the semen immediately before ejaculation

Question 12

how is the prostate gland divided? what are they divided by?

Answer 12

into anatomical lobes

Question 13

what are the anatomical lobes of the prostate gland?

Answer 13

inferoposterior, inferolateral, superomedial, and anteromedial

Question 14

what divides the anatomical lobes of the prostate gland?

Answer 14

urethra and the ejaculatory ducts as they pass through the organ

Question 15

what are the histological division of the prostate into zones?

Answer 15

central, transitional, peripheral zones

Question 16

what does central zone of prostate surround?

Answer 16

the ejaculatory ducts

Question 17

embryological derivative of the central zone of prostate?

Answer 17

from Wolffian duct

Question 18

transitional zone of prostate location? surrounds?

Answer 18

Located centrally and surrounds the urethra

Question 19

embryological derivation of transitional zone of prostate?

Answer 19

urogenital sinus

Question 20

peripheral zone of prostate location?

Answer 20

Makes up the main body of the gland and located posteriorly

Question 21

embryological origin of peripheral zone?

Answer 21

Urogenital Sinus

Question 22

what do you feel in DRE?

Answer 22

The peripheral zone is the zone felt against the rectum on DRE

Question 23

what is situated anterior in the prostate gland?

Answer 23

The fibromuscular stroma

Question 24

what does the fibromuscular stroma merge with?

Answer 24

tissue of the urogenital diaphragm

Question 25

what are the histological zones of the prostate important in?

Answer 25

BPH and prostatic carcinoma

Question 26

The arterial supply to the prostate comes from?

Answer 26

the prostatic arteries

Question 27

where are the prostatic arteries derived from?

Answer 27

internal iliac arteries

and also internal pudendal and middle rectal arteries

Question 28

Venous drainage of the prostate is via?

Answer 28

the prostatic venous plexus

Question 29

where does the prostatic venous plexus drain into?

Answer 29

draining into the internal iliac veins

Question 30

what else does the prostatic venous plexus connect to posterior?

Answer 30

by networks of veins, including the Batson venous plexus, to the internal vertebral venous plexus

Question 31

innervation to prostate?

Answer 31

sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory innervation from the inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 32

innervation of SM of prostate?

Answer 32

by sympathetic fibres, which activate during ejaculation

Question 33

what is BPH?

Answer 33

the increase in size of the prostate, without the presence of malignancy

Question 34

what is BPH common with?

Answer 34

advancing age

Question 35

the enlarging prostate can cause what in BPH?

Answer 35

compresses on both the bladder and the urethra

resulting in men presenting with urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and difficulty in initiating micturition

Question 36

BPH is usually caused by enlargement from which zone?

Answer 36

transitional zone of the prostate

Question 37

how does prostatic carcinoma present with?

Answer 37

with similar symptoms as BPH

Question 38

where do malignant cells of prostatic carcinoma commonly originate from? resulting in?

Answer 38

the peripheral zones, resulting in symptoms presenting late during advanced stages of the disease

Question 39

how will a DRE be line in prostatic carcinoma?

Answer 39

A DRE may reveal a hard irregular prostate gland

Question 40

how do malignant cells commonly spread?

Answer 40

via Batson venous plexus to the vertebral bodies and cause metastases