Anatomic histological study of prostatic artery in elders

Prostatic artery of 12 elder and 9 younger cadavers were isolated and transected.Vascular inner diameter and thickness of vascular wall of these cross sections were observed microscopically.Atherosclerotic plaque could be seen in the prostatic artery of 12 elders.And there were the thickening of tunica intima and the narrowing of inner diameter.The inner diameter of elderly prostatic artery was (452 ± 97) μm,the thickness of their tunica intima (228 ± 82) μm and inner diameter/thickness 3.14 ± 0.68.Tunica intima of 9 younger prostatic arteries were glabrate.The inner diameter of younger prostatic artery was (864 ± 17)μm,the thickness of their tunica intima (57 ± 4)μm and inner diameter/thickness 15.52 ± 0.18.Statistically significant differences existed between elder and younger cadavers in the above 3 parameters.As compared with younger counterpart,prostatic artery of elders was more stenotic and its tunica intima tended to he thicker. Key words: Prostatic artery;  Anatomy,regional