epididymis

The epididymis, extends longitudinally on the posterior border of the testis.

It presents a superior dilatation that goes beyond the superior pole of the testis, which is called head; an intermediate segment which is the body and inferiorly, a narrower portion which is the tail of the epididymis.

In the head of the epididymis, the efferent ductules of the testis continue through ductules again very tortuous, which then are successively anastomosed to form a single tube that is the duct of the epididymis.

This duct is so sinuous that it occupies a space approximately two centimeters long, when in reality it is six meters long.

Inferiorly, the tail of the epididymis, having the epididymal duct inside, curves backwards and upwards at an acute angle, following the vas deferens.

It is precisely in this curve formed by the tail of the epididymis and the beginning of the vas deferens that the sperm are stored until the moment of the sexual act, when they are taken to the outside.

The first portion of the vas deferens is more or less sinuous and ascends immediately behind the epididymis.

Both the testis and the epididymis and the first portion of the vas deferens are directly surrounded by a serous membrane that is the tunica vaginalis.

Like the pleura or the pericardium, the tunica vaginalis has a leaflet that directly surrounds those organs, being called the visceral lamina.

Posterior to Organs aforementioned organs, the visceral layer of the tunica vaginalis is reflected on each side, to continue with the vaginal layer.

Between the visceral layer and the parietal layer of the tunica vaginalis, there remains a virtual space called the vaginal cavity.

The vaginal cavity contains a small amount of fluid that facilitates the sliding between the two blades.

EPIDIDYMIS

Source: NETTER, Frank H.. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd edition Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2000.

SECTIONED TESTICLE

Source: NETTER, Frank H.. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd edition Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2000 .