Table of contents:
- The structure of the prostate
- Transition zone
- Central zone
- Peripheral zone
- What is the function of the prostate organ?
- The importance of maintaining prostate health
- 1. Eat nutritious foods
- 2. Bask in the sun
- 3. Sports
- 4. Perform routine checks
The prostate is an organ that has a big role in the male reproductive system. Of course, the prostate must be taken care of, because various disorders that attack the prostate can affect men's health and fertility.
To find out how important the prostate organ is, consider what you need to know about the following anatomy and functions.
The structure of the prostate
The prostate is a gland that is located under the bladder and surrounds the urinary tract, the channel through which urine and sperm exit the body. Only owned by men, this organ has the size of a walnut weighing 20 to 30 grams and can grow in size with age.
The prostate is covered by a capsule called fibromuscular tissue which consists of a mixture of collagen, elastic connective tissue, and lots of smooth muscle fibers. This is why the prostate feels very elastic to the touch.
The prostate gland tissue is divided into three zones. These are the three, from the innermost to the outermost layer.
Transition zone
This zone is the deepest and smallest part of the prostate gland, weighing only about 10% of the total organ. The transition zone surrounds the upper third of the urethra.
The transition zone is the only part that will continue to grow throughout life. For this reason, the transition zone is also often the initial site for the occurrence of BPH disease or benign prostate enlargement.
Central zone
The central zone, also known as the median lobe, surrounds the transition zone and accounts for about a quarter of the weight of the entire prostate. In this zone, there are also several parts consisting of the prostate duct, seminal duct, and seminal vesicles. This channel is also known as the ejaculatory duct.
Peripheral zone
The peripheral zone covers about 70% of the total prostate gland tissue. The peripheral zone is the outermost zone that can be felt when doing digital rectal exam (DRE) or plug rectum.
Most problems such as adenocarcinoma or prostate cancer will be found in the peripheral zone. This area is also the site of most chronic prostatitis.
What is the function of the prostate organ?
The main work of the prostate is the most important is to produce fluid which will later mix with sperm cells from the testes to form cement. This fluid is stored in tubular glands called seminal vesicles which are located in the central zone.
During ejaculation, the muscle cells that wrap around the prostate will contract and suppress the stored fluid. This process causes the fluid, sperm cells, and fluids from other glands to mix. This mixture forms cement which will later come out through the penis or also known as semen.
This fluid will determine the quality of the cement produced. The reason is, this liquid consists of sugars, enzymes, and alkaline chemicals that play an important role in the fertilization process. The secreted sugar nourishes the sperm so that it can fertilize an egg when it enters a woman's body.
The prostate also produces an enzyme named prostate specific antigen (PSA) which helps liquefy semen after ejaculation so that sperm cells can swim faster to the egg. Meanwhile, alkaline chemicals will neutralize vaginal acid secretion to maintain sperm survival in the woman's body.
Semen also contains antibody components that can protect the urinary tract and sperm cells from bacteria and pathogens that cause various diseases.
In addition, the presence of the prostate prevents back ejaculation, a condition in which semen is pulled backward into the bladder. The prostate muscle will help close the bladder neck when a person is experiencing sexual climax.
The importance of maintaining prostate health
Like other organs of the body, the prostate is also not free from the risk of disease. Types of prostate disease are:
- Prostatitis. Inflammation of the prostate that can be caused by a bacterial infection or injury to the prostate gland.
- Benign prostate enlargement (BPH). A condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged to the point of blocking the urethra.
- Prostate cancer.
Once you have a problem with your prostate, the most impact will be the distraction of urinating. As in BPH disease. Because of its location around the urethra, excess prostate enlargement will force the urethral tract, causing urine to come out choked or even blocked altogether.
This will give you a feeling of discomfort. In addition to burning when urinating and ejaculating, you often feel the urgency to go to the bathroom because your bladder always feels full. Unfortunately, urine excretion is obstructed due to this disease. A problematic prostate also decreases the quality of life.
Fortunately, there are various ways you can do to keep it functioning properly. Various healthy habits that you can do are as follows.
1. Eat nutritious foods
Daily diet is one of the most important factors that determine your risk of a disease. In order to avoid prostate disease, start setting a healthy diet with balanced nutrition.
Some foods that can help you prevent disease include foods with healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, olive oil, and fish that contain omega-3s.
Leafy greens can also be a great first step in starting a healthy eating habit. Vegetables are full of vitamins and antioxidants that will protect you from disease-causing pathogens.
2. Bask in the sun
Vitamin D can actually help you to reduce your risk of developing a disease in the prostate organ, namely prostate cancer. Apart from that, vitamin D is also known to be good for the health of the heart, kidneys and pancreas.
One of the intake of vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight. Therefore, take a few minutes to get in the sun. Don't forget to use sunscreen to keep your skin protected.
3. Sports
Many studies have shown that obesity, especially with a high amount of belly fat, can be a trigger for BPH disease. So that this does not happen, try to be more active and do regular exercise.
Exercise will help those of you who are overweight. Exercise can also help prevent other sexual health problems such as erectile dysfunction.
4. Perform routine checks
The older you get, the risk of prostate disease increases. In addition, having a family history of prostate disease can also increase your risk.
If you feel you belong in this group, you should consider screening. Screening usually includes examinations digital rectal exam (DRE) and PSA level test.
Later, if you have undergone both and your PSA shows above normal results, you may have to do further tests. This is very important to do so that the disease can be detected early.
