Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

epididymis

American  
[ep-i-did-uh-mis] / ˌɛp ɪˈdɪd ə mɪs /

noun

Anatomy.
  • epididymides
    plural
  1. an elongated organ on the posterior surface of a testis that stores sperm while they mature and constitutes the convoluted beginning of the vas deferens.


epididymis British  
/ ˌɛpɪˈdɪdɪmɪs /

noun

  1. anatomy a convoluted tube situated along the posterior margin of each testis, in which spermatozoa are stored and conveyed to the vas deferens

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of epididymis

1600–10; < Greek epididymís; see epi-, didymous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The epididymis is the area in the male reproductive system where freshly formed sperm mature.

From Science Daily Jun. 5, 2024

For this investigation, the researchers from the Institute of Agricultural Sciences used samples of testicles, epididymis and vas deferens from 118 freshly slaughtered bulls of reproductive age.

From Science Daily Feb. 16, 2024

Once those RNA packages arrive at the epididymis, the hypothesis goes, they prompt a of cascade of changes at conception that evade the stripping, or rebooting, process and the subsequent reshuffling during early development.

From New York Times Dec. 10, 2018

A lump in the epididymis is seldom concerning, whereas a lump on the testicle should raise the concern of testicular cancer.

From Salon Jul. 15, 2018

Removing sperm directly from the epididymis would eliminate any effect that the accessory gland secretions could be exerting.

From Preservation of Bull Semen at Sub-Zero Temperatures by M. E. Friedman

Figure 27.2 Male Reproductive System The structures of the male reproductive system include the testes, the epididymides, the penis, and the ducts and glands that produce and carry semen.

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

Averages of the 2 epididymides from each bull are given in Table 3; the samples from bulls 5 and 6 were combined.

From Preservation of Bull Semen at Sub-Zero Temperatures by M. E. Friedman

Sternotherus, Terrapene, and Thamnophis are alike in completing spermatogenesis late in the season and storing spermatozoa, in the seminiferous tubules or in the epididymides, during hibernation.

From Natural History of the Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz by John M. Legler

Sperm expelled from the epididymides in autumn matings are seemingly replaced by others from the seminiferous tubules; the epididymides become much smaller when their supply of sperm is nearly exhausted after spring mating.

From Natural History of the Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz by John M. Legler

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com