epididymis

[ep-i-did-uh-mis]

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.

epididymis

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• epididymal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epididymis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of epididymis¹

C17: from Greek epididumis, from _epi- + didumos twin, testicle; see _didymous