CBSE Class 10 Answered

The prostate is a walnut-sized exocrine gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. It slowly grows larger with age. The gland is made of two lobes, or regions, enclosed by an outer layer of tissue. The prostate is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder, where urine is stored. The prostate also surrounds the urethra, the canal through which urine passes out of the body.

The function of the prostate is to store and secrete a slightly alkaline fluid, milky or white in appearance, that usually constitutes 25-30% of the volume of the semen (along with spermatozoa and seminal vesicle fluid). The alkalinity of semen helps neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract, prolonging the lifespan of sperm.