Prostate gland-Penis

Prostate Gland

The prostate gland surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra in a male. It is approximately the size of a walnut. It is partly muscular and partly glandular. The function of the prostate gland is to secrete the liquid portion of the seminal fluid. Seminal fluid carries sperm. During orgasm, the muscles of the prostate help to propel the prostate fluid and sperm (produced in the testicles) into the urethra. The semen leaves through the tip of the penis during ejaculation.

Because of the location of the prostate just anterior to the rectum, it can be palpated by a physician during a digital rectal examination. The physician places a finger into the patient's rectum and checks for enlargement or masses.

Bulbourethral Glands

The bulbourethral glands, also known as Cowper's glands, are two accessory glands located below the prostate. These glands secrete pre-ejaculatory fluid, which lubricates the urethra and neutralizes the acidity remaining from urine.

Penis

The penis is made up of two parts: the shaft and the glans. The shaft is the main part of the penis and the glans is the tip (sometimes called the head) of the penis. At the end of the glans is a small slit or opening called the meatus. This is where semen and urine exit the body through the urethra. The foreskin, or prepuce, is the loose skin covering the end of the penis. Excision of the prepuce is called circumcision. The shaft is made up of three columns of erectile tissue. Two of the columns are called the corpus cavernosa and the third is called the corpus spongiosum. The urethra is surrounded by the corpus spongiosum. These columns of tissue can expand with increased blood flow during arousal causing an erection.