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The epididymis serves as an interconnection between the multiple efferent ducts at the rear of a testicle (proximally), and the vas deferens (distally). Its primary function is the storage, maturation and transport of sperm cells .
In mammals, spermatozoa are produced in the seminiferous tubules and flow into the epididymal duct. The end of the epididymis is connected to the vas deferens. The vas deferens ends with an opening into the ejaculatory duct at a point where the duct of the seminal vesicle also joins the ejaculatory duct. [1]
The epididymis is a long whitish mass of tightly coiled tube. The sperm that are produced in the seminiferous tubules flow into the epididymis. During passage via the epididymis, the sperm undergo maturation and are concentrated by the action of ion channels located on the apical membrane of the epididymis. [2]
As a result of the epididymis being attached to the testis, and the cauda epididymis extending below the lower extremity of the testis (Figure 1C), it was proposed that the epididymis was the prime mover in the evolution of testicular decent, whereby the cauda epididymis preceded the testis into a scrotal location. [1]
The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (ductus deferens) and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle.
In humans and other large mammals, there are approximately 15 to 20 efferent ducts, which also occupy nearly one-third of the head of the epididymis. b) single entry, as seen in most small animals such as rodents, whereby the 3–6 ductules merge into a single small ductule before entering the epididymis. [citation needed]
The function of the blood–testis barrier may be to prevent an auto-immune reaction. [13] Mature sperm (and their antigens) emerge significantly after immune tolerance is set in infancy. [13] Since sperm are antigenically different from self-tissue, a male animal can react immunologically to his own sperm. The male can make antibodies against ...
Testis in the place of its original formation; t', together with the dotted lines above, indicates the direction in which the testis and epididymis descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. Skene's glands a.k.a. paraurethral gland: pr. Prostate: u. Uterus. The uterine tube of the right side is marked m. va. Vagina: vh. Ductus aberrans: vs ...