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male anatomypng
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Male Anatomy
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The right Testis , exposed by laying open the tunica vaginalis
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Wolffian Duct
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Epididymis
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The is part of the
Human Male Reproductive System and is present in all male
Mammal s. It is a narrow, tightly-coiled
Tube connecting the
Efferent Ducts from the rear of each
Testicle to its
Vas Deferens . The epididymis can be divided into three main regions, the head (''caput''), body (''corpus'') and tail (''cauda''). Sperm formed in the testis enter the caput epididymis, progress to the corpus, and finally reach the cauda region, where they are stored. Sperm entering the caput epididymis are incomplete - they lack the ability to swim forward (
Motility ) and to
Fertilize an egg. During their transit in the epididymis, sperm undergo maturation processes necessary for them to acquire these functions. Sperm maturation is completed in the
Female reproductive tract (''
Capacitation '').
During
Ejaculation ,
Sperm flow from the lower portion of the epididymis (which functions as a storage reservoir). They are packed so tightly that they are unable to swim, but are transported via the
Peristaltic action of
Muscle layers within the
Vas Deferens , and are mixed with the diluting fluids of the
Seminal Vesicle s and other accessory glands prior to ejaculation (forming
Semen ).
Inflammation of the epididymis is called
Epididymitis .
A
Gartner's Duct is a
Homologous remnant in the female.
Embryologically , the epididymis is derived from tissue that once formed the
Mesonephros , a primitive
Kidney found in many aquatic vertebrates. Persistance of the cranial end of the mesonephric duct will leave behind a remnant called the ''appendix of the epididymis''. Additionally, some mesonephric tubules can persist as the ''paradidymis'', a small body caudal to the
Efferent Ductules .
- Jones, R.C. (1999). ''To store or mature spermatozoa? The primary role of the epididymis''. International Journal of Andrology 22:57-67. abstract
- Moore, Keith L. & Persaud, T.V.N. (2003). ''The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology'' (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-9412-8
