The prostate gland is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. It is composed of glandular tissue surrounded by muscle and connective tissue. The gland contains 30-50 tubuloalveolar glands that secrete fluids to protect and nourish sperm. During ejaculation, the prostate contracts to expel its fluid contents. Prostate disorders include benign prostatic hyperplasia, inflammation, and cancer.

1. Histology of Prostate Gland
1
• This is the largest of the
accessory glands, it is pierced
by the urethra and the
ejaculatory ducts.
• It is a slender capsule shaped
like a walnut and is composed
of a richly vascularized, dense
irregular dense connective
tissue interspersed with
smooth muscle cells. During
ejaculation, the smooth muscle
contracts and leads to the
expulsion of the glandular
content.
• Is a conglomeration of 30 to 50
individual compound
tubuloalveolar glands,
• The tubuloalveolar glands
have pseudostratified
columnar epithelium of
varying height.
• The columnar cells contain apical
secretory granules. Basal cells are found
between the columnar cells for
regeneration of the epithelium. The
prostate glands open on both sides of
the Colliculus in the prostatic urethra.

2. 2
Section of the central region of the prostate showing the
prostatic urethra and tubuloalveolar glands surrounded by
connective tissue and smooth muscle.

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• The prostate gland is
lined by simple to
pseudustratified to
columnar epihelium;
surrounded by
connective tissue and
smooth muscle.
COMPONENTS OF THE PROSTATE GLAND

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5. 5
• The glands are arranged in
three major zones around the
urethra:
1. The transition zone occupies
only about 5% of the prostate
volume, surrounds the
superior portion of the
urethra, and contains the
periurethral mucosal glands.
2. The central zone comprises
25% of the gland’s tissue and
contains the periurethral
submucosal glands with
longer ducts.
3. The peripheral zone, with
about 70% of the organ’s
tissue, contains the prostate’s
main glands with still longer
ducts.

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Labeled diagram of the prostate (source; oncology.net)

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• Mucosal glands are closest to the urethra and thus are the
shortest of the glands
• Submucosal glands are peripheral to the mucosal glands and
are consequently larger than the mucosal glands.
• Largest and most numerous of the glands are the
peripheralmost main glands, which compose the bulk of the
prostate.
• Lumina of the tubuloalveolar glands frequently house round to
oval prostatic concretions (corpora amylacea), composed of
calcified glycoproteins, whose numbers increase with a person’s
age.

8. 8
Histological slide of a prostate (source; Kenhub.net)

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FUNCTIONS OF THE PROSTATE
• Prostatic Secretion
The prostatic fluid is thin, slightly acidic (pH 6.4) and forms about 20%
of semen volume. It contains spermine (for the motility of sperms),
spermidine, prostataglandins (for uterus stimulation), zinc (affects
testosterone metabolism of the prostate), citric acid (buffer),
immunoglobulins, phosphatases and proteases (see liquefaction of the
semen).
• Control of Urine or Semen Flow
The prostate acts as a kind of valve, preventing urine flow during the
ejaculation and or permitting urine flow in between. Micturition is made
possible under parasympathetic activity and low sympathetic activity,
this leads to the relaxation of the bladder neck. Ejaculation is controlled
by the sympathetic nervous system. The activation of prostatic alpha-
receptors leads to the contraction of the smooth muscle stroma of the
bladder neck; this causes the expulsion of the prostate gland content and
closes the bladder neck for an antegrade ejaculation. Injury of the
sympathetic nerves (e.g. due to retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy) leads
to retrograde ejaculation.

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CLINICAL CORRELATIONS OF THE PROSTATE GLAND
The prostate gland is prone to three common problems:
(1) Chronic Prostatitis, usually involving bacteria or other
infectious agents; It is simply inflammation of the prostate.

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CLINICAL CORRELATIONS OF THE PROSTATE GLAND
(2) Nodular hyperplasia or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, occurring mainly in
the periurethral mucosal glands. Overgrowth of prostate tissue often leads to
compression of the urethra and problems with urination;

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CLINICAL CORRELATIONS OF THE PROSTATE GLAND
(3) Glandular Prostate Cancer (adenocarcinoma), the most common cancer
in nonsmoking men, occurring mainly in glands of the peripheral zone