E-cyclopedia Resources

📑 On this page 📑   prostate cancer Introduction: Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland, a small walnut-sized organ in the male reproductive system that helps make semen. It is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in men, and while most cases grow slowly, some can spread beyond the prostate. This article explains what prostate cancer is, where the prostate is located, and how common the disease is in the United States. It also outlines established risk factors such as age, family history, and race, describes typical urinary symptoms and signs of advanced disease, and summarizes the main tests used for detection including PSA blood tests and biopsies . Finally, it reviews current treatment approaches ranging from active surveillance to surgery, radiation, and hormone-based therapies . What Is Prostate Cancer and Who Is at Risk? The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra Prost...

Benign Enlargement Introduction: Benign enlargement of the prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, is a noncancerous growth of the prostate gland that becomes more common with age. This article explains what BPH is, how the prostate normally grows in two phases during life , and why enlargement often appears late in the second phase. It covers how common BPH is, including estimates for men aged 40 to 64 and those 65 and older, and outlines key risk factors such as age, family history, and certain health conditions. It describes typical lower urinary tract symptoms , how clinicians diagnose BPH with history, physical exam, and tests like urinalysis and PSA, and reviews the main treatment approaches from watchful waiting and medicines to minimally invasive therapies and surgery. What Benign Enlargement Means and Who Develops It The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra — BPH is noncancerous enlargement ...

Prostatitis Introduction: Prostatitis is a frequently painful condition that involves inflammation of the prostate and sometimes the areas around it. This article explains the four National Institutes of Health types, acute bacterial prostatitis , chronic bacterial prostatitis , chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome , and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis , and why they differ in cause and course. It covers how common prostatitis is, especially as the most common urinary tract problem in men younger than 50 , and describes typical symptom patterns, from sudden fever and pelvic pain in acute bacterial forms to persistent pelvic discomfort lasting three months or more in chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It also outlines how clinicians diagnose prostatitis using history, physical exam including digital rectal exam , urinalysis and urine culture , and how treatment varies by type, including antibiotics for bacterial forms and symptom-directed therapies for chr...

Hormone Metabolism Introduction: Hormone metabolism describes how chemical messengers are made, transported, activated, and cleared to regulate energy use, growth, and internal balance. This article explains the main chemical classes of hormones, how peptide, steroid, and amino-acid-derived hormones are synthesized, and why most circulate bound to plasma proteins with very different half-lives. It outlines core metabolic regulators, insulin and glucagon for blood glucose, thyroid hormones T3 and T4 for basal metabolic rate, and cortisol for glucose production, protein breakdown, and fat redistribution, and shows how negative feedback loops keep their levels within narrow ranges. It also covers peripheral activation steps, including deiodinase conversion of T4 to T3 and the role of selenium-dependent enzymes . How Hormones Are Made, Classified, and Carried Hormones are grouped by chemistry, which determines how they are made and how they travel. ...

male reproductive system Introduction: The male reproductive system produces, stores, and delivers sperm, and secretes hormones that regulate male physiology. This article explains the main organs involved, from the testes and scrotum to the ducts and accessory glands , and describes how sperm are formed, matured, and transported. You will learn how temperature regulation supports spermatogenesis , what each gland contributes to semen, and how the system integrates with the urinary tract. Illustrative images are included to show key structures. All information is drawn from publicly accessible, medically reviewed sources cited in the references. Core organs and their anatomy       Major structures include testes, epididymis , ducts, and glands The function of the male reproductive system is to produce sperm and transfer them to the female reproductive tract. The paired testes are a crucial component in this process, as they produ...

Prostate gland: what it is, functions and ailments Introduction: The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system with important roles in fertility and urinary function. This article explains what the prostate is and where it sits in the body, describes its main functions in semen production and hormone metabolism , and outlines the most common ailments that affect it. You will learn about its size, its three anatomical zones, how its muscles work during ejaculation and urination, and the key differences between prostatitis , benign enlargement , and prostate cancer . All information is drawn from publicly accessible, medically reviewed sources cited in the references. What it is and where it is located The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra The prostate is a gland about the size of a chestnut and weighs about 30 grams (about 1 ounce). It is part of the male reproductive system and is located inside the...