Physiology. Amylase is a calcium dependent enzyme which hydrolyzes complex carbohydrates at alpha 1,4-linkages to form maltose and glucose. Amylase is filtered by renal tubules and resorbed (inactivated) by tubular epithelium. Active enzyme does not appear in urine.
The prostate is an accessory sex gland that surrounds the urethra and neck of a male dog's bladder. The prostate gland produces a fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition in which the prostate gland is enlarged. The word hyperplasia means increased in size.
Surface Anatomy of the Prostate. The prostate gland is a pyramid-shaped organ with apex (contact to the urethra and directed downward) and basis (contact to the bladder and directed upward). The prostate lies below the urinary bladder and is located in front of the rectum. The prostate weighs about 20 g (3 cm long, 4 cm wide, 2 cm thick). There are considerable prostate size variations. The seminal vesicles are located at the base of the prostate.