Final answer:
The prostate gland contributes essential alkaline fluid to semen, making up roughly 30 percent of its volume, containing nutrients and enzymes crucial for maintaining sperm health and aiding in their journey within the female reproductive tract. Prostatic fluid provides nutrition, and an enlarged prostate can cause urinary issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prostate gland is a critical accessory gland of the male reproductive system that provides a substantial contribution to the overall volume and content of semen. The gland secretes an alkaline, milky fluid that is essential for the proper functioning and sustainability of sperm. The fluid produced by the prostate accounts for about 30 percent of the semen's volume, and it contains nutrients like citrate, enzymes, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that play key roles in the semen's ability to coagulate and then decoagulate following ejaculation. This process ensures that the semen is retained within the female reproductive tract long enough for sperm to utilize nutrients provided by the seminal vesicles and ultimately increase the chances of fertilization.
The correct options in reference to the original question are: 3) Prostatic fluid provides the sperm nutrition for their long trip to the female reproductive tract and 5) Enlarged prostates can cause urinary frequency. Notably, fluid from the seminal vesicles, not the prostate gland, makes up the majority of semen's volume (roughly 60 percent), while prostatic fluid plays a vital role but isn't the majority. Sperm viability in the absence of prostatic fluid is not directly addressed, but prostatic fluid certainly helps protect and nourish sperm.