Anatomy for Dummies – The Prostate Gland

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Who are we? Tex Us TOO (a chapter of Us TOO International) is a prostate cancer support group in the Greater Houston, TX, area.  Our mission is to provide education and support. 

(We DO NOT dispense medical advice) www.texustoo.org

Today’s Presentation Objectives: 

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Explore the anatomy and functions of the male genito-urinary system, in an easy-to-understand manner. Talk about problems and diseases related to the prostate. Discuss a variety of strategies available to prevent and fight problems with the prostate gland. Questions and Answers regarding prostate cancer from our perspective of “professional survivors”.

The grapefruit below represents the urinary bladder: 

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The drinking straws represent the ureters, two tubes that connect each kidney to the bladder. The kidneys clean the blood and filter waste from it This process produces urine. Urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored until a person urinates. Note the stem of the grapefruit is at the bottom, to represent the valve or sphincter that opens and closes to control urination.

Bladder and ureters in front of the abdomen

This lemon, pierced by another drinking straw, represents the prostate gland: 

A normal prostate is the size of a walnut

All glands produce specialized secretions that serve specific functions for the body.  The prostate is located directly underneath the bladder.  The prostate gland produces a white, thick fluid, whose only function is to provide food and transportation for the sperm. The sperm is produced in the testicles.  The drinking straw going through the middle of the prostate is the urethra, which discharges either urine or semen. The urethra is connected to the sphincter between the bladder and the prostate.

Bladder, ureters; prostate gland and urethra are located in front of the abdomen.

This cucumber represents the The penis has four main penis: parts: the urethra, two 

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corpora cavernosa and the glans. The urethra is located at the bottom of the penis and carries urine or, semen during sexual activity. Two chambers named corpora cavernosa are located at the top on both sides of the penis. When sexually aroused, each fills with blood from the arteries, causing an erection. The glans is the end portion of the penis, is very sensitive, and provides sexual pleasure.

Bladder, ureters, prostate gland and penis in the appropriate location

urethra and corpus spongiosum.jpg

Cross Section of the penis

The pears below represent the The testicles produce the male testicles: hormone testosterone.  

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Inside each testicle is an epididymus “the nut” where millions of sperm cells are created. The sperm cells travel through two tubes named vas deferens to the seminal vesicles, where it is stored. The seminal vesicles will have spasms during sexual activity, causing the sperm to mix with the white fluid in the prostate. The resulting mixture is called the semen. The semen is expelled from the body, (ejaculation) and produces the intense sexual pleasure of the orgasm.

Bladder

Ureter

Seminal Vesicle

Prostate Vas Deferens

Testicle

A view from the back and side

Sperm Cells under a microscope. (a single ejaculation contains millions of individual sperm).

Anatomy of a Sperm Cell. The testicles produce sperm at the rate of 10,000 per minute; each sperm contains all the information to create a human being!

Sperm competing to penetrate and fertilize an egg. Go, baby go!

Ureter Seminal Vesicle

Bladder

Prostate Vas deferens

Testicle

Front View of the male genito-urinary system.

Congratulations! You have now completed your “Anatomy for Dummies” course. (give yourselves a pat on the back)

In order to graduate, you will now have a test to identify the male anatomy with real anatomical models:

Identify the bladder, ureters, prostate gland, sphincter and urethra.

Rear view: Identify the bladder, prostate, vas deferens and seminal vesicles.

Graduates, please come forward to receive your wellearned diploma from the “Anatomy for Dummies” University! Next we will look at the problems and diseases of the prostate gland.