Epididymis
Updates to Article Attributes
The epididymis is situated adjacent to testes within the scrotal sac. Its primary function is the collection, maturation and transport of sperm via the vas deferens.
Gross anatomy
The epididymis is an elongated structure, posterolateral to testes, with head,body and tail regions.
The total length of epididymis is usually 6-7cm in length but it is tightly coiled and would measure 6m if uncoiled 3.
The headis its largest and most recognisable part and is found at the superior pole of the testis. The head of the epididymis measuresapproximately 5-12mm in length and may have a small projection called the appendix of the epididymis 3. The tail of the epididymis is found at the inferior pole of the testis 3.
Seminiferous tubules carry the sperm via tubuli recti into a dilated spacewithin mediastinum testes which is known as rete testes. Rete testesdrains into epididymis through 10-15 efferent ductules 1. Efferentducts in head of epididymis (globus major) unite to form a single duct (globusminor) in body and tail region, which continues as vas deferens.
Blood supply
Deferential artery (a branch of superiorvesical artery) and cremasteric artery (a branch of inferior epigastricartery) supply the epididymis.
Radiological appearance
Ultrasound
See article: Testicular and scrotal ultrasound
Normal epididymis is iso-to-hyperechoic to the testes, with equal or lessvascularity on dopplercolour and spectral Doppler. The head of the epididymis is visualized superior andlateral to the testes, while the body and the tail are smaller with variable locations2.
MRI
- T1 - epididymis has homogenously intermediate signal
- T2 - epididymis hashyperintense signal, with slightly lower signal than testes.
History and etymology
"Epididymis" derives from the Greek έπιδιδνμίς (έπί "upon" + δίδνμος "testicle"). Δίδνμοι (meaning "twins") was an older term for both testicles and ovaries. Galen originally used the term to refer to what we now call the tunica, and used the term "parastates" ("standing beside") for what we call the epididymus. Herophilus may be the first to use it in the current sense.
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>epididymis </strong>is situated adjacent to <a title="testes" href="/articles/testes">testes</a> within the <a title="Scrotum" href="/articles/scrotum">scrotal sac</a>. Its primary function is the collection, maturation and transport of sperm via the <a title="vas deferens" href="/articles/vas-deferens">vas deferens</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The epididymis is an elongated structure, posterolateral to testes, with head,-body and tail regions. </p><p>The total length of epididymis is usually 6-7cm in length but it is tightly coiled and would measure 6m if uncoiled <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>The head-is its largest and most recognisable part and is found at the superior pole of the <a href="/articles/testis" title="testis">testis</a>. The head of the epididymis measures-approximately 5-12mm in length and may have a small projection called the appendix of the epididymis <sup>3</sup>. The tail of the epididymis is found at the inferior pole of the testis <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>Seminiferous tubules carry the sperm via tubuli recti into a dilated space-within mediastinum testes which is known as <strong>rete testes</strong>. Rete testes-drains into epididymis through 10-15 efferent ductules <sup>1</sup>. Efferent-ducts in head of epididymis (globus major) unite to form a single duct (globus-minor) in body and tail region, which continues as <a href="/articles/ductus-deferens" title="Vas deferens">vas deferens</a>.</p><h4>Blood supply</h4><p>Deferential artery (a branch of superior-vesical artery) and cremasteric artery (a branch of inferior epigastric-artery) supply the epididymis. </p><h4>Radiological appearance</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>Normal epididymis is iso-to-hyperechoic to testes, with equal or less-vascularity on doppler. The head of the epididymis is visualized superior and-lateral to the testes, while the body and the tail are smaller with variable locations<sup>2</sup>.</p><h5>MRI</h5><ul>-<li>-<strong>T1</strong> - epididymis has homogenously intermediate signal</li>-<li>-<strong>T2</strong> - epididymis has- hyperintense signal, with slightly lower signal than testes.</li>-</ul><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/vas_deferens_calcification" title="Vas deferens calcification" style="line-height: 1.5;">vas deferens calcification</a></li></ul>- +<p>The <strong>epididymis </strong>is situated adjacent to <a href="/articles/testes">testes</a> within the <a href="/articles/scrotum">scrotal sac</a>. Its primary function is the collection, maturation and transport of sperm via the <a href="/articles/vas-deferens">vas deferens</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The epididymis is an elongated structure, posterolateral to testes, with head, body and tail regions. </p><p>The total length of epididymis is usually 6-7cm in length but it is tightly coiled and would measure 6m if uncoiled <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>The head is its largest and most recognisable part and is found at the superior pole of the <a href="/articles/testis">testis</a>. The head of the epididymis measures approximately 5-12mm in length and may have a small projection called the appendix of the epididymis <sup>3</sup>. The tail of the epididymis is found at the inferior pole of the testis <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>Seminiferous tubules carry the sperm via tubuli recti into a dilated space within mediastinum testes which is known as <strong>rete testes</strong>. Rete testes drains into epididymis through 10-15 efferent ductules <sup>1</sup>. Efferent ducts in head of epididymis (globus major) unite to form a single duct (globus minor) in body and tail region, which continues as <a href="/articles/ductus-deferens">vas deferens</a>.</p><h4>Blood supply</h4><p>Deferential artery (a branch of superior vesical artery) and cremasteric artery (a branch of inferior epigastric artery) supply the epididymis.</p><h4>Radiological appearance</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>See article: <a title="Testicular and scrotal ultrasound" href="/articles/testicular-and-scrotal-ultrasound">Testicular and scrotal ultrasound</a></p><p>Normal epididymis is iso-to-hyperechoic to the testes, with equal or less vascularity on colour and spectral Doppler. The head of the epididymis is visualized superior and lateral to the testes, while the body and the tail are smaller with variable locations <sup>2</sup>.</p><h5>MRI</h5><ul>
- +<li>
- +<strong>T1</strong> - epididymis has homogenously intermediate signal</li>
- +<li>
- +<strong>T2</strong> - epididymis has hyperintense signal, with slightly lower signal than testes.</li>
- +</ul><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>"Epididymis" derives from the Greek έπιδιδνμίς (έπί "upon" + δίδνμος "testicle"). Δίδνμοι (meaning "twins") was an older term for both testicles and ovaries. Galen originally used the term to refer to what we now call the tunica, and used the term "parastates" ("standing beside") for what we call the epididymus. <strong>Herophilus</strong> may be the first to use it in the current sense.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/vas-deferens-calcification">vas deferens calcification</a></li></ul>
References changed:
- 4. Skinner HA. Origin of Medical Terms. Hafner Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN:0028523903. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0028523903">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0028523903">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
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