What does epididymis mean?

By (invitra staff).
Last Update: 02/11/2021

The epididymis is an elongated and narrow conductive tube that connects the testicles and the vas deferens. It is through this conduit that semen circulates. In addition, the epididymis is the place where the final maturation of the sperm takes place.

Three parts of the epididymis are distinguished:

Head
largest part of the epididymis.
Body
place where the sperm mature. This maturation process usually lasts about 10-14 days..
Tail
is where mature spermatozoa are stored until they are expelled to the exterior.

Therefore, sperm aspiration directly from the epididymis could be the solution for men diagnosed with male infertility due to the absence of sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia). In this case, it would be necessary to resort to in vitro fertilization (IVF).

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Author

 Romina Packan
Romina Packan
inviTRA Staff
Editor and translator for the English and German edition of inviTRA. More information about Romina Packan

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