Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

As we explained earlier, the prostate is similar to an orange in its structure, with an outer shell, lobes, and the urethra passing through its central axis between the lobes. The lobes of the orange represent the core of the gland where glandular, muscular, and connective tissue cells are located, and this core is responsible for the gland's function. In benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the number of cells in the core of the prostate (whether glandular or muscular) increases significantly to the point that this core becomes enlarged. The new cells are normal, not cancerous, which is why it is called benign enlargement. The central axis of the prostate contains the urethra, which is a hollow tube with a wall made of elastic epithelial tissue. Therefore, this axis represents a point of weaker resistance compared to the outer shell, which is made of dense fibrous tissue. This is why the enlargement of the prostate core (the lobes of the orange) initially grows inward, and the enlarged lobes press on the urethra, causing narrowing and obstruction as the enlargement progresses, even before it becomes apparent on the gland from the outside and increases its size. Benign prostatic hyperplasia can be classified based on the type of cells that are increasing in number; it can involve only glandular cells, only muscular cells, or both types. Treatment varies depending on the type of cells involved in the enlargement.