VGO 511: Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques (1+1)

EPIDIDYMIS

It is composed of a single, torturous, coiled tubule starting from the proximal portion of the testis and is responsible for nutrition, maturation, transport and storage of spermatozoa.

Epididymis consists of three parts

• Head of epididymis (or) caput
  • The proximal or spermatic cord end of the epididymis is more or less flat, broad and U-shaped.
  • It is a fimbriated tubular mass.
  • It is hidden due to its enclosure with a fat pad.
• Body of epididymis (or) corpora (or) corpus
  • It is the intermediate narrow part.
  • It is a cylindrical tubular mass.
  • It is apparently visible.
• Tail (or) cauda
  • It is the distal enlarged end.
  • It is an inverted triangular tubular mass.
  • It is apparently visible.
  • It is the storage site for spermatozoa.

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• Epididymis is covered by a smooth muscle coat which transports the sperms by peristaltic movement.
• It has more secretory and absorptive activity.
• The epididymal duct provides the environment for gaining of fertility by spermatozoa.
• Spermatozoal removal from the epididymis is caused by periodic contractions of the epididymis and ductus deferens, resulting in a gradual trickle of spermatozoa out of the tail, through the ductus deferens, in to the pelvic urethra where they are flushed out of the tract during urination. This allows removal of sperm from the epididymis on a continual basis.
• Grossly, the epididymis appears as an approximately cylindrical organ.
• Spermatozoa stored in the epididymis retain fertilizing capacity for several weeks.
• The cauda epididymis contains about 75% of total epididymal spermatozoa.

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The tail of the epididymis acts as a reservoir of fully mature sperm and becomes turgid with stored sperm in sexually active animals.

• The length of the epididymis varies with the species. It is about 20 metres in stallion, 30 metres in bull and 50 metres in boar.
• The epididymis is closely attached by fibrous tissue to the surface of the testis proper.
• This is continuous with the vas deferens.

 

Functions of the epididymis

• Absorption

• Secretion

• Maturation of fluid

• Transportation and

• Storage of spermatozoa

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