Epididymis
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Shown on the male body.
- What it is
- Comma-shaped organ along the back of the testis made of a single, tightly coiled duct, with a head on the upper pole, a body and a tail that becomes the vas deferens.
- Function
- Stores sperm and lets them mature and gain the ability to swim over about 2 weeks.
- Size
- About 5 cm long; the coiled duct is about 6 m long when uncoiled.
- Clinical note
- Epididymitis, usually from infection, causes a painful swelling behind the testis.