The prostate gland is located just below the urinary bladder and surrounds the urethra. It is a part of the male reproductive system and plays a role in the production of seminal fluid.
The prostate gland produces an alkaline secretion to neutralize the acidic environment of the female reproductive tract. This helps protect the sperm and increases their motility during fertilization. Semen, which contains sperm, must be neutral to survive the acidic conditions in the vaginal environment. The alkaline secretion from the prostate gland helps to increase sperm viability and function.
The structure that regulates the flow of urine from the urinary bladder is the urethral sphincter. It is a muscular valve that controls the release of urine during urination. The urethral sphincter allows for voluntary control over urination by relaxing to allow urine to flow out and contracting to retain urine in the bladder.