Final answer:
The prostate gland, about the size of a walnut, secretes an alkaline fluid essential for sperm health and is instrumental in the ejaculation process. It aids in the thickening and later liquefying of semen to facilitate sperm movement, with the secretions making up roughly 30% of the semen volume and containing important substances including citrate, enzymes, and PSA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should instruct the patient about the function of the prostate gland by explaining its vital role in male reproductive health. The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that sits anterior to the rectum and surrounds the prostatic urethra. It is formed of both muscular and glandular tissues. The gland contributes significantly to the reproductive process by excreting an alkaline, milky fluid into the seminal fluid, now called semen, which is crucial in coagulating and then decoagulating the semen after ejaculation. This process is important as the temporary thickening of semen helps retain it within the female reproductive tract providing sufficient time for the sperm to utilize nutrients such as the fructose from seminal vesicle secretions. The prostate gland secretions make up about 30 percent of the semen's volume and contain citrate, enzymes and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is essential for liquefying ejaculate after its release.
Additionally, the prostate's muscular tissue aids in the forceful expulsion of semen during ejaculation. The role of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) is also noteworthy. It is a proteolytic enzyme that helps to liquefy ejaculate making it easier for sperm to travel within the female reproductive tract.