THE HUMAN PROSTATE GLAND 329 



of the ejaculatory ducts. A few of the most lateral ward of the 

 middle lobe tubules have branches which extend to the sides for 

 short distances but in no place is there noted an intermingling 

 with lateral lobe tubules. There are no branches of the lateral 

 lobes extending into the middle lobe region and the ducts of the 

 nine large branching tubules which form the latter structure 

 pour their secretions through mouths which empty upon the ure- 

 thral floor bladderward from the openings of the ejaculatory ducts. 

 An interesting thing noted in all of the prostates studied but more 

 particularly in this one is the fact that an enormous number of 

 branches join together to form one tubule which empties into the 

 urethra through a duct which is no larger in diameter than one of 

 its smallest branches. The ducts of the middle lobe tubules 

 just before their entrance into the urethra are quite widely sepa- 

 rated from other parts of the prostate, thereby retaining their 

 embryological characteristic of an independent origin. 



The uppermost ends of the left lateral lobe tubules have ex- 

 tended back under the bladder and are found contained in their 

 thick muscular envelope adherent to the sides of the seminal 

 vesicles. The right lateral lobe tubules are found to have ex- 

 tended back only to a point above the opening of the seminal 

 vesicle into the ejaculatory duct. Lower down where the pros- 

 tate is broadest the branches of the lateral lobe tubules are exceed- 

 ingly numerous. By their great development they cause the 

 base of the prostate to bulge laterally and posteriorly. The two 

 lobes are made up of thirty-four tubules and are separated pos- 

 teriorly by the ejaculatory ducts, the middle lobe and the posterior 

 lobe. Anteriorly in this series of sections the branches of the 

 lateral lobes approach each other very closely, especially in lower 

 part of the gland at its apex. The outermost or caudalward por- 

 tion of the lateral lobes, represented by two large gland tubules, 

 send branches in a caudalward direction and this fact is of interest 

 surgically because in nearly every successful enucleation these 

 forward branches must be cut with curved scissors in order to 

 free the lobes from the capsule as they seem to be particularly 

 adherent. The posterior borders of these lobes are separated 

 from the posterior lobe by a rather dense layer of connective tissue 



