Anatomy of the prostate: an historical survey of divergent views.

Historically, the study of the prostate anatomy has been characterized by a proliferation of contradictory findings. The major divergent views of prostate anatomy are here reviewed and compared in order to facilitate further study and the ultimate selection of the best anatomical model. The details of Lowsley's original concept of the prostate lobes and the subsequent evolution of this concept into several contradictory hypotheses are traced. Discrepancies between the findings of Lowsley, Franks, and McNeal are explained. Conclusions are drawn which may facilitate the further study of anatomy and disease in both the human animal prostate.