epididymis

[ ep-i-did-uh-mis ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural ep·i·di·dym·i·des [ep-i-di-, dim, -i-deez, -, did, -, uh, -mi-].

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

Derived Forms

• ˌepiˈdidymal, adjective

Other Words From

• epi·didy·mal 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

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

I let her ponder the difference between scrotum and epididymis in peace, but I did wonder if the amount of information she had to take in was a little too much.

From New York Times

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