Stereomorphological Peculiarities of the Structure of Human Prostate and Complications of its Nomenclature

The objective of the research was to investigate three-dimensional structure of individual glands and their ductules in different glandular zone of the prostate gland, in particular its peripheral zone as well as the coordination and removal of anatomical nomenclative inconsistencies. Materials and methods. The objects of study were 5 total preparations of the prostate gland of young person according to the WHO classification. To study the structure of the prostate and the architectonics of its ductules a series of consecutive histological paraffin sections with thickness of 4 microns were obtained and investigated. Based on them, two-dimensional image reconstructions and three-dimensional plastic reconstructions of the ductules and their branchings in the peripheral zone of the prostate gland were made. Results. Line analysis of a series of histological sections in depth within the peripheral zone of the prostate, as well as study of its two-dimensional image reconstructions and three-dimensional plastic reconstructions, allowed us to identify the following tubular components directly related to the urinary secretion: 1) terminal excretory ductules (first receiving the secretion excreted by glandulocytes of terminal portions); 2) lateral excretory ductules representing 2-3 consecutive dichotomous lateral branchings of central ductules up to the terminal ductules; 3) central ductules located centrally in each of the individual gland of the peripheral zone; 4) major ductules − without lateral branchings; 5) rarely − the common excretory duct, formed by the confluence of several major ones. As it has already been mentioned above, the difference in their numbers is connected with this phenomenon. Presented gradation of the prostatic ductules allows us to determine as morphological units not glandular lobules but individual prostatic glands.