Question

The combining form that refers to the male gland that encircles the upper end of the urethra is:

Answer 1

The answer to this question would be: prostate glands

The term upper end is a bit ambiguous and it should be better to call it the proximal end of the urethra. The upper ends of the urethra, near the bladder, there is an organ called prostate. The prostate is a gland that only found in males as its function was to produce seminal fluid, make it a bit alkali. 

Answer 2

The prostate gland is the structure that encircles the upper end of the urethra. Its main functions is to produce and secrete a fluid (prostate fluid) that helps sperm. The prostate fluid helps the sperm by protecting and nourishing. It is also a muscle that aid in propelling the seminal fluid.