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Located between the bladder and rectum, the prostate is a gland made up of two lobes and surrounded by a layer of tissue. http://www.prostate-health-center.com
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Located between the bladder and rectum, the prostate is a gland made up of two lobes and surrounded by a layer of tissue. Theprostate also surrounds the urethra, the tube which carries both urine and semen into the penis. The prostate is quite small in young men, about the size of a walnut, but grows throughout the lifetime of its male host.
Prostate Functions The prostate carries out several important functions. First and foremost, the prostate functions as a sex gland by not only creating the fluid that helps nourish sperm and protect them on their journey through the vaginal tract, but in its further capacity as a muscle, it helps propel said sperm through the penis upon ejaculation.
That fluid is produced by thousands of tiny glands within the prostate, which mixes with sperm to create semen. That process is carried out during ejaculation. As the muscles contract, forcing this fluid into the urethra, it mixes with sperm being released from the testicles to form semen.
This prostatic fluid’s alkalinity helps protect the sperm upon entering the acidic vaginal tract. Without this coating, sperm have less mobility, shorter lifespans, and are prone to losing their DNA markers.
When healthy, the prostate functions as a line of defence against any bacteria attempting to invade the bladder. As well, it helps men control their rate of urine flow by contracting around the urethra and limiting the amount of urine that is released at any given time.
Prostate Size The size of the prostate tends to be uniform among men, regardless of race, typically being about the size of a kiwifruit, and weighing around one ounce. The size is not static throughout the life of its host though, and typically goes through two main stages of growth.
The size of the prostate first begins to increase when a boy first reaches puberty, approximately doubling in size. Again in the mid 20’s the size of the prostate increases again, though this time not as dramatically as during puberty
After the second growth spurt, the prostate often continues to grow slightly over time, and this can result in a common condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasy (BPH). BPH is present in a high percentage of males over 40, and an even higher percentage of males over 60, though not all males will be subject to symptoms of BPH.
These symptoms can include more frequent urination, an inability to completely empty the bladder, a weak urine stream, as well as painful and/or bloody urination.
For more information visit this link : www.prostate-health-center.com