Prostatic venous plexus surrounds the prostate, draining into internal iliac and vertebral veins.
The prostatic venous plexus is a dense network of interconnected veins that surrounds the prostate gland in males. It plays a key role in draining venous blood from the prostate, bladder base, seminal vesicles, and proximal urethra. The plexus is clinically significant due to its valveless nature and communications with the vertebral venous system, providing a potential route for metastatic spread of prostatic carcinoma to the spine and brain.
The prostatic venous plexus is composed of numerous valveless veins situated within the fascial sheath of the prostate, particularly on its anterior and lateral surfaces. The veins freely anastomose with each other and with adjacent pelvic venous networks.
The prostatic venous plexus lies within the fibrous prostatic sheath and the endopelvic fascia. It closely envelops the anterior and lateral aspects of the prostate and lies posterior to the pubic symphysis in the retropubic (prevesical) space of Retzius.
Direction | Related Structure |
---|---|
Anterior | Pubic symphysis (separated by retropubic space) |
Posterior | Prostatic urethra and rectum |
Lateral | Levator ani muscle and endopelvic fascia |
Superior | Bladder neck and vesical venous plexus |