| Lab 16 Male Reproductive System: 1) Index 2) Introduction 3) Things to Identify 4) The Testes 5)Tubuli Recti and Rete Testes 6) Efferent ducts and Ductus Epididymis 7) Ductus Deferens 8)Seminal Vesicle 9) Prostate Gland 10) Penis 11) Practical |
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Prostate
Gland
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| # 171 - Prostate gland, older human, h.-e., 1.5 mm, sec. |
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The prostate gland is a composite gland made up of mucosal, submucosal and main glands. This specimen has an abundant stroma of connective tissue containing: 1) numerous irregular tubuoalveolar glands lined by epithelium of variable height; and 2) scattered spherical duct-like structures lined by more uniform columnar cells. Examine at low power and locate the eosinophilic prostatic concretions (corpora amylaceae) in the lumen of the gland. Do not confuse these concretions with the masses of cells which fill much of the lumen. These cellular masses are probably the result of the post-mortem degeneration of the epithelial surface. Note the numerous strands of smooth muscle within the stroma. The presence of abundant acid phosphatase is clinically important; an elevation of serum acid phosphatase aids in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. This test has been replaced by the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which detects the presence of a particular antigen in the blood. The PSA test is a screen for the early detection of prostate cancer as well as a useful monitoring test for its possible recurrence after therapy. REFERENCES: : Gartner, pp. 374 - 375 Ross, pp. 674 - 675 Wheater, p. 332 - 333, Fig. 18.15 - 18.16 DiFiore, pp. 286 - 287 |
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Here is a low power image of the Prostate Gland which the red arrow is pointing to. It has a similar look to the Seminal vesicle however there is one thing that makes it characteristically the prostate gland and those are the Prostatic Concretions, which are the huge red concretions in the lumen of the glands that the blue arrows are pointing to. Red arrow - Prostate Gland Blue arrow - Prostatic Concretions
This is a closer look at the epithelium of the prostate gland which is very variable. In this view you get a better view of the characteristic Prostatic Concretion (blue arrow), which are located with in the lumen of the gland. If you see these giant red things in the middle of the lumen, you are guaranteed that there is nothing else that looks like this, and can safely say you are in the Prostate Gland. Blue arrows - Prostatic Concretions |
Prostate Gland
Prostate Gland (prosthetic concretions) |
