Mammal, epididymis (LM, Medium)

Structure List Head of epididymis Epididymal duct Efferent ductules Seminiferous tubules Low Magnification View

Seminiferous tubules form straight tubules (tubuli recti). Straight tubules join the rete testis in the mediastinum. Several efferent ducts (efferent ductules) leave the rete to join the epididymis (duct of the epididymis). It consists of a head, body and tail. The head is formed from the union of several efferent ducts. The wall of the epididymis consists of a layer of smooth muscle, which gets thicker going from head to tail. It is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with long microvilli (stereocilia). Sperm mature and are stored in the epididymis.