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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• epididymal adjective

Etymology

Origin of epididymis

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

Example Sentences

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

The epididymis should also be easily distinguishable from the testicle itself.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2018

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