* * *
A chestnut-shaped body, surrounding the beginning of the urethra in the male, that consists of two lateral lobes connected anteriorly by an isthmus and posteriorly by a middle lobe lying above and between the ejaculatory ducts. In structure, the p. consists of 30–50 compound tubuloalveolar glands between which is abundant stroma consisting of collagen and elastic fibers and many smooth muscle bundles. The secretion of the glands is a milky fluid that is discharged by excretory ducts into the prostatic urethra at the time of the emission of semen. SYN: prostata [TA], glandula prostatica, p. gland.
- female p. term sometimes applied to the periurethral glands in the upper part of the urethra in the female.
* * *
Physicians for Rational Ordering and Screening Tests and Therapeutic Effectiveness
* * *
prostate adj of, relating to, or being the prostate gland
* * *
pros·tate (prosґtāt) [Gr. prostates one who stands before, from pro before + histanai to stand] a gland in the male that surrounds the bladder neck and urethra. It consists of a median lobe and two lateral lobes, and is made up partly of glandular matter whose ducts empty into the prostatic part of the urethra, and partly of muscular fibers that encircle the urethra. The prostate contributes to the seminal fluid a secretion containing acid phosphatase, citric acid, and proteolytic enzymes that account for the liquefaction of the coagulated semen. Called also prostata [TA] and prostate gland. prostatic adj
Prostate and seminal vesicles.
Medical dictionary. 2011.