Prostate

The prostate is a fibromuscular glandular organ that surrounds the prostatic urethra. It is about 1.25 in. (3 cm) long and lies between the neck of the bladder above and the urogenital diaphragm below.

The prostate is surrounded by a fibrous capsule. The conical prostate has a base, which lies against the bladder neck above, and an apex, which lies against the urogenital diaphragm below. The two ejaculatory ducts pierce the upper part of the posterior surface of the prostate to open into the prostatic urethra at the lateral margins of the prostatic utricle.

Function of the Prostate:

The prostate produces a thin, milky fluid containing citric acid and acid phosphatase that is added to the seminal fluid at the time of ejaculation. The smooth muscle, which surrounds the glands, squeezes the secretion into the prostatic urethra. The prostatic secretion is alkaline and helps neutralize the acidity in the vagina.