Microscopy Primer
Light and Color
Microscope Basics
Special Techniques
Digital Imaging
Confocal Microscopy
Live-Cell Imaging
Photomicrography
Microscopy Museum
Virtual Microscopy
Fluorescence
Web Resources
License Info
Image Use
Custom Photos
Partners
Site Info
Contact Us
Publications
Home

The Galleries:

Photo Gallery
Silicon Zoo
Pharmaceuticals
Chip Shots
Phytochemicals
DNA Gallery
Microscapes
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Birthstones
Religion Collection
Pesticides
BeerShots
Cocktail Collection
Screen Savers
Win Wallpaper
Mac Wallpaper
Movie Gallery

Brightfield Microscopy Digital Image Gallery

Prostate Gland (Older)

The prostate gland is an important part of the male reproductive system that contributes to the seminal fluids that contain sperm. Positioned directly below the bladder, the gland surrounds the upper part of the urethra, the duct responsible for emptying urine from the bladder.

View an image of the older prostate gland at 20x magnification.

Following puberty, the prostate gland is about the size of a walnut for much of a man’s life. However, around the age of 40 or 50, the prostate often begins to enlarge, a process referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The reason for this physiological change is not completely understood, but is believed to involve a number of factors, such as increased levels of the female sex hormone estradiol and greater production of dihydrotestosterone, a derivative of the male sex hormone testosterone. When the prostate enlarges to a significant extent, symptoms of the condition, which chiefly consist of urination problems caused by the pressure of the gland on the urethra, usually ensue.

The number of men that suffer from an enlargement of the prostate gland later in life is on the rise. Fortunately, in many cases this growth is non-cancerous. However, as instances of BPH increase, so do the number of sufferers of prostate cancer, one of the most common of all types of cancer. Indeed, it is already generally believed that most men have at least a small cancerous nodule in the prostate gland by the time they are 80, although many never realize it. In some cases, however, prostate cancer may spread to other areas of the body and cause serious problems. Thus, regular prostate exams are recommended, and younger individuals are usually advised to have any cancerous nodules promptly removed.

BACK TO THE BRIGHTFIELD MICROSCOPY IMAGE GALLERY

Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1998-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our
Graphics & Web Programming Team
in collaboration with Optical Microscopy at the
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Last modification: Friday, Nov 13, 2015 at 02:19 PM
Access Count Since November 25, 2003: 31204
All of the images in this gallery were captured with a QImaging Retiga camera system.
For more information on these cameras, use the button below to access
the QImaging website:
Visit the QImaging website.
For more information on microscope manufacturers,
use the buttons below to navigate to their websites: