Where is the man’s prostate?

The prostate is a male-specific reproductive gland located below the bladder and surrounding the beginning of the urethra.

The prostate is shaped like an inverted chestnut, with its upper end wide and connected to the bladder neck, and its lower end tapering to the urogenital diaphragm. Its front is the pubic symphysis, and its back is close to the anterior wall of the rectum. This anatomical position allows digital rectal examination to touch the posterior surface of the prostate. The urethra passes through the center of the gland, and the ejaculatory duct passes diagonally through the upper part of the gland and merges into the prostate part of the urethra. The transverse diameter of the adult male prostate is about 4 cm, the vertical diameter is about 3 cm, the front-to-back diameter is about 2 cm, and the weight is about 20 grams. As we age, benign growth of the prostate may occur, causing pressure on the urethra and difficulty urinating. When inflammation or tumors occur in the prostate, symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and perineal swelling and pain may occur.

It is recommended that men avoid sitting for long periods of time, which puts pressure on the perineum, and perform Kegel exercises regularly to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. The diet can be appropriately supplemented with nutrients beneficial to prostate health such as lycopene and zinc. An annual prostate-specific antigen test can help detect lesions early. When persistent urination abnormalities occur, you should promptly seek medical advice from a urology department and make a clear diagnosis through digital rectal examination, ultrasound or MRI.