epididymis

American  

[ep-i-did-uh-mis] / ˌɛp ɪˈdɪd ə mɪs /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

epididymides

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• epididymal adjective

Etymology

Origin of epididymis

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

Example Sentences

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

The group has found several specific nucleoside transporter proteins that allow these compounds to go from the blood into epithelial cells lining the epididymis.

From Scientific American

Fig. 7: section of epididymis from mature male obtained on April 17, three days after turtle emerged from hibernation; mature sperm form a continuous dark mass in center of epididymis.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

If the starting point is in the epididymis, hard, rounded lumps are formed generally in the head or tail of the epididymis, rarely in the body.

From Project Gutenberg