tin 



THE PKOSTATE. 



1303 



ey are attached to the periosteum. These constitute the pubo-prostatic liga- 

 ments, and contain smooth muscle fibres, as well as dense connective tissue, 

 me of the muscle fibres in connexion with the pubo-prostatic ligaments, passing 

 wards as well as backwards, gain the bladder wall, and are spoken of as the 

 bo-vesical muscles. Below the pubo-prostatic ligaments the medial edges of 

 e levatores ani muscles pass medially and almost meet together in front of the 

 apex of the prostate. When followed backwards, the medial edge's of these muscles 

 are seen to closely embrace the apex of the prostate. This layer forms a part of 

 the wall of the retro-pubic space which lies in front of the prostate and below the 

 bladder (Fig. 1024). 



Between the pubo-prostatic ligaments there is a shallow fossa, or depression, the 

 floor of which is formed by a thin layer of fascia connecting the anterior aspect of 

 the sheath of the prostate with the back of the pubis. On each side of the body 

 the lateral aspect of the sheath of the prostate is continuous with the strong fascia 

 which covers the pelvic surface of the levator ani muscle. When the fibrous sheath 

 of the prostate is traced upwards beyond the level of the upper margin of the gland 

 it becomes thinned out and joins the fascial covering of the bladder. Posteriorly the 



Pubo-prostatic ligaments 



Crista urothralis 



..JJtriculus 

 5\ prostaticus 



Urethra 



Capsule 



Ejaculatory ducts Lobules of gland 



A B 



1023, A and B. HORIZONTAL SECTIONS THROUGH THE PROSTATE. Section A lies at a higher level than B. 



upward prolongation of the sheath is continuous with the fascial layers which 

 enclose the ampullae of the ductus deferentes and the seminal vesicles, and it is 

 adherent to the peritoneum of the recto-vesical pouch. In this position it is often 

 ST ^ of as the recto-vesical fascia. 



Wken 

 Str 



Structure of the Prostate. Beneath the fibrous sheath of the gland the 

 superficial part of the prostate is seen to be largely composed of matted interlacing 

 ndles of smooth muscle and connective tissue fibres, which form a kind of capsule for 

 deeper parts of the organ. This layer, or capsule of the prostate, is not sharply 

 ned, but from its deep aspect fibrous and muscular strands pass inwards, converging 

 ards the posterior wall of the urethra, to become continuous with the mass of smooth* 

 uscular tissue which surrounds this canal as it traverses the prostate. These somewhat 

 radially arranged strands divide the prostate into a number of incompletely defined 

 lobules, of which there appear to be about fifty. The yellowish-coloured glandular tissue, 

 or corpus glandulare, which forms the lobules is composed of minute, slightly branched 

 tubules, the walls of which in certain places show numerous saccular dilatations. In the 

 upper portion of the gland the tubules are slightly dilated and shorter than in the lower 

 part, where they are longer and more convoluted. The glandular tubules lead into the 

 minute prostatic ducts, which open into the urethral canal as it traverses the prostate. 

 The ductus prostatici number about twenty or thirty, and open for the most part into 

 a groove on each side of the median elevation, or crista urethralis, in the posterior wall 

 of the urethra (Fig. 1023 A). 



The bulk of the glandular tissue is situated at the sides of and behind the urethra. 

 In front of the upper part of the prostatic portion of the urethra there is a mass of 



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