Updated by: Arabinda Naik
Epididymis is a long tube 6 meter long, which is coiled and tightly packed to form an elongated flattened body which is located along the posterior surface of each testis. It has three parts. Caput epididymis, corpus epididymis and cauda epididymis. It stores sperm. It is divided into three parts:
i. Upper head or caput epididymis or Globus major — this part is wide and receives vasa efferentia.
ii. Corpus epididymis or Globus minor or body – It stores sperms for a short duration, which undergoes maturation. It lies in the lateral side of the testes.
iii. Cauda epididymis or Globus minor or tail – Before entering the vas deferens the spermatozoa is stored here. This part lies on the caudal side of the testes and is wide.
Function of epididymis It functions in the maturation, transport, and storage of the sperm cells that are produced in the testes. The long length of the epididymis provides storage space for spermatozoa and allows them to mature before release. It also absorbs fluid and additional substances to the seminal fluid to nourish the maturing sperm.