iv THE GENERATIVE SYSTEM OF THE MALE 135 



the diameter of 1 mm., and may be expelled with the secretion. 

 The glandular tissue increases in quantity up to mature age ; 

 later it diminishes, whilst the connective tissue augments and the 

 organ assumes a greater consistency and hardness. Between 

 senile impotence and senile hypertrophy of the prostate there is 



FIG. 28. Median section through the fixed portion of the male urethra of an adult in a state of 

 physiological dilatation, in its natural relations. (Waldeyer.) S, symphysis pubis ; V, 

 urinary bladder ; R, rectum ; /, prostatic urethra ; //, membranous or trigonal urethra ; ///, 

 pretrigonal urethra ; IV, urethra cavernosa ; 1, bulbo-urethral gland (Cowper's) and its ex- 

 cretory duct ; 2, bulb of the urethra ; 3, bul bo-cavernous muscle ; 4, external sphincter 

 muscle of anus; 5, internal sphincter muscle of anus; 6, muscle of urogenital trigone (the 

 line points to part behind urethra) ; 7, rectovesical fascia ; 8, prostate ; 9, rectovesical 

 hollow ; 10, vesicula seminalis and deferent duct ; 11, opening of ureter in ureteric 

 fold ; 12, ejaculatory duct ; 13, internal sphincter of bladder ; 13', surface which in- 

 cludes anterior part of internal sphincter of bladder, anterior part of prostate, and prostatic 

 part of striated sphincter of urethra (the boundaries between these various organs are 

 not distinct in the figure); 14, thickening of median layer of the circular fibres of thevesical 

 muscles at the anterior circumference of the internal orifice of the urethra ; 15, adipose 

 tissue in the prevesical space ; 16, medial puboprostatic ligaments ; 17, suspensory ligament 

 of penis ; 18, deep dorsal vein of penis ; 19, corpus cavernosum ; 20, corpus spongiosum. 



no causal relation such as exists between senile atrophy of the 

 testicles and atrophy of the glandular portion of the prostate 

 (Griffiths). 



The secretion of the prostate is fluid, milky, slightly alkaline 

 (according to Poehl slightly acid in the dead body, and according 

 to Fiirbringer also in the living), containing protein, but free from 

 mucin. In the dead body it contains a great number of crystals 



