A neuroanatomical study of the neurovascular bundle at the lateral border of the prostate in adult male / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the position and distribution of the neurovascular bundle at the lateral border of the prostate in adult male. Methods The neurovascular bundle at the lateral border of the prostate was observed on the remaining 25 sides of the medially dissected 18 male formalin-preserved cadavers with an operative microscope.The neurovascular bundle at the lateral border of the prostate of an adult male cadaver was explored with hematoxylin and eosin staining and nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) immunohistochemistry staining. Results The neurovascular bundle,which stemed from the pelvic plexus,together with the corresponding vessels were formed and divided into 2 branches to pass the lateral border of the prostate.One of them traveled between the posterolateral prostate and anterolateral rectum.The other traveled between the bladder neck and the prostate to reach the lateral border of the puboprostatic ligament.After 2 nerve branches of the neurovascular bundles pierced the urogenital diaphragm, they met together to form a nerve bundle again.Two bundles and the urogenital diaphragm formed a triangle area at the lateral border of the prostate.There was no nerve and vessel in this triangle area.The nerve branches at the lateral border of the prostate contained nerve cell bodies and fibers that stained positive for nitric oxide synthase. Conclusions There are 2 neurovascular bundles at the lateral border of the prostate.One of them travels between the posterolateral prostate and anterolateral rectum.The other travels between the bladder neck and the prostate to reach the lateral border of the puboprostatic ligament.They contain nerve ganglia that stain positive for nitric oxide synthase.