156 THE PROSTATE GLAND. 



The Prostate Gland 



Is situated on the under and posterior part of the neck of the 

 bladder, so as to surround the urethra. Its form has some 

 resemblance to that of the horse-chestnut, but it has a notch on 

 the basis like that of the figure of the heart on playing cards, 

 and it is much larger than the chestnut of this part of America. 

 The basis of this body is posterior, and its apex anterior ; its 

 position is oblique, between the rectum and the symphysis 

 pubis. Below there is in some cases a small furrow, which, 

 in addition to the notch above, gives to the gland an appear- 

 ance of being divided into two lobes. By turning away the 

 vesiculae seminales and vasa deferentia from the under surface 

 of the bladder, we bring into view a small tubercle at the 

 upper part of the base of the prostate, called by Sir Everard 

 Home the third lobe. When diseased it projects into the 

 cavity of the bladder.* 



The prostate adheres to the urethra and neck of the bladder. 

 Its consistence is very firm and dense, resembling the induration 

 of scirrhus rather more than the ordinary texture of glands. 



This gland receives small branches from the neighboring 

 blood-vessels, and has no artery of considerable size exclusively 

 appropriated to it. 



As it lies in close contact with the urethra, the ducts which 

 pass between it and the urethra are not to be seen separate 

 from these bodies : but ducts can be seen in the substance of 

 the gland, which perforate the urethra, and open on the sides 

 of the caput gallinaginis to the number of five or six on each 

 side. By pressure a small quantity of a whitish fluid can be 

 forced from these orifices, which is rather viscid, and coagulable 

 in alcohol. 



The particular use of this fluid is not known. 

 Fig. 163, is a magnified representation of a section of the 

 prostate gland, which serves to show its vesicular structure. 



* In a healthy state, the third lobe forms but a slight elevation in the cavity 

 of the bladder, covered by mucous membrane, called uvula vesicae. P. 



