The prostate gland
is a collection of muscles, ducts, and glands located
directly below the urinary bladder. The prostate gland
is also located directly in front of the rectum and
is surrounded by the neurovascular nerve bundles that
control erection. The prostate gland is about the size
of a walnut, though, as men age, the prostate gland
begins to enlarge. The prostate gland is responsible
for producing a fluid containing hormones and proteins
to be added to the ejaculatory fluid for the purpose
to keeping sperm alive after they have entered the vagina.
Some men will develop prostate cancer which is a tumor
that grows on the prostate gland. Prostate cancer usually
grows slowly but is capable of extraprostatic extension,
extracapsular extension, lymph node metastasis, and
bone metastasis.
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