Editing Prostate (section)

===Microanatomy===
[[File:Corpora amylacea intermed mag.jpg|thumb|right|[[Micrograph]] of benign prostatic glands with [[corpora amylacea]]. [[H&E stain]].]]

The prostate consists of glandular and [[connective tissue]].<ref name="Young-2013" /> Tall [[Columnar cell|column-shaped cells]] form the lining (the [[epithelium]]) of the glands.<ref name="Young-2013" /> These form one layer or may be [[Pseudostratified epithelium|pseudostratified]].<ref name="Standring-2016" /> The epithelium is highly variable and areas of low [[Cuboidal epithelia|cuboidal]] or [[squamous epithelium|flat]] cells can also be present, with transitional epithelium in the outer regions of the longer ducts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prostate Gland Development |url=http://www.ana.ed.ac.uk/database/prosbase/prosdev.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030430000050/http://www.ana.ed.ac.uk/database/prosbase/prosdev.html |archive-date=2003-04-30 |access-date=2011-08-03 |website=ana.ed.ac.uk}}</ref> [[Basal cell]]s surround the luminal epithelial cells in benign glands. The glands are formed as many follicles, which drain into canals and subsequently 12–20 main ducts, These in turn drain into the urethra as it passes through the prostate.<ref name="Standring-2016" /> There are also a small amount of flat cells, which sit next to the basement membranes of glands, and act as stem cells.<ref name="Young-2013" />

The connective tissue of the prostate is made up of fibrous tissue and [[smooth muscle]].<ref name="Young-2013" /> The fibrous tissue separates the gland into lobules.<ref name="Young-2013" /> It also sits between the glands and is composed of randomly orientated smooth-muscle bundles that are continuous with the bladder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prostate |url=https://webpath.med.utah.edu/TUTORIAL/PROSTATE/PROSTATE.html |access-date=2019-11-17 |website=webpath.med.utah.edu}}</ref>

Over time, thickened secretions called [[corpora amylacea]] accumulate in the gland.<ref name="Young-2013" />

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Prostatehistology.jpg|Microscopic glands of the prostate
File:Prostate gland microanatomy.png|Microanatomy of a prostatic gland, showing both luminal cells and surrounding basal cells. H&E stain.
File:Histology of normal prostate.jpg|Histology of normal prostate, H&E stain, with benign features: Glands are rounded to irregularly branching, with an inner layer of epithelial cells surrounded by an outer layer of basal cells. They are surrounded by ample stroma.
File:Histology of prostate atrophy.jpg|Histology of prostate with gradually increasing simple atrophy from left to right, H&E stain. Crowding and angulation may mimic that of adenocarcinoma, but there is nuclear basophilia rather than atypia, and occasional basal cells can still be seen.
</gallery>