Prostate Gland in Humans
Prostate gland is present in males only. It is a part of the male reproductory system, as it contributes its secretion to the
semen containing male sperms. The gland has a conical shape and contain anterior, posterial, two lateral and a median lobe.
Problems Which Come Up With The Prostate Gland:
Prostatitis: In this problem, the bacterial infection leads to inflammation of the gland.
Benign enlargement of the prostate: This problem mostly occurs with the people who are there in their 50s or 60s. It is a
tumor of the prostate and does not lead to cancer.
Cancer of the prostate: This is the most deadly disease associated with prostate. This cancer has a direst relation with the
male sex hormones ( androgens), in case the secretion of the androgen increases, the rate of growth of this cancer also
increases simultaneously. At times the testes is removed from the body in order to finish the secretion of the sex hormone,
this in a leads to significant decrease in the size of the tumour.
Here are several very important points regarding the growth and spread of prostate cancer:
- Mainly the cancer is found in the posterior lobe of the prostate. Other lobes show non cancerous diseases.
- The growth rate of the prostate cancer is very high as the urethra gets compressed due to the tumour. This compression causes
a lot of difficulty in urination.
- The gland faces several changes in its structure. It acquires an irregular surface and becomes very hard. It loses the normal
lobulation.
How does the prostate cancer spread to other parts :
Local spread:
The cancer cells travel up to the lateral lobes and seminal vesicles from the posterior lobe. The neck and base of the
urinary bladder also get affected by the tumour cells.
Spread through the blood:
The periprostatic venous plexus facilitate the spread of the cancer cells and help cells to reach the vertebral veins and
finally the cells enter the vertebral bodies of the lumbar vertebrae.
Lymphatic spread:
Through the lymph vessels cancer cells reach the internal and external illiac group of lymph nodes. From there cells move to
retroperitoneal (Behind the peritoneum) and mediastinal lymph nodes (in the chest)
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