Where is the prostate located relative to the bladder neck and the external urethral sphincter?

Where is the prostate located relative to the bladder neck and the external urethral sphincter?

• A. Superior to neck of bladder and inferior to external urethral sphincter
• B. Inferior to neck of bladder and superior to external urethral sphincter
• C. Posterior to bladder neck and anterior to external urethral sphincter
• D. Anterior to bladder neck

Answer: (B)

Understanding how pelvic structures line up in the sagittal plane helps. The bladder neck sits at the top where the bladder narrows into the urethra, and the external urethral sphincter surrounds the distal urethra below the prostate. The prostate lies just beneath the bladder neck, enclosing the prostatic urethra, and is situated above the external urethral sphincter. So, the prostate is inferior to the bladder neck and superior to the external urethral sphincter.

Understanding how pelvic structures line up in the sagittal plane helps. The bladder neck sits at the top where the bladder narrows into the urethra, and the external urethral sphincter surrounds the distal urethra below the prostate. The prostate lies just beneath the bladder neck, enclosing the prostatic urethra, and is situated above the external urethral sphincter. So, the prostate is inferior to the bladder neck and superior to the external urethral sphincter.