Human Epididymis: Structural Pattern,Total Length and Inner Surface Area

Abstract

Introduction

The organ epididymis is secured the name considering it functioned as an appendix to the testis; earlier testis was called as didymi. Regarding the length of human epididymis, several values are attributed by different authors. The present study was aimed to find out the pattern, total length and inner surface area of human epididymis.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted by employing microsurgical procedures on five testes from unclaimed human dead bodies.

Results

Caput was formed by few tubes interconnecting at three levels. These tubes led to corpus, which in turn was having more number of tubes interconnecting at different levels. Tubules were many looking like a mesh. United tubes of corpus form the single tube to form cauda. Epididymis length was 30.48 cm. Inner surface area was 818.16 mm².

Conclusions

Reported values of others seem to be a modified version from that of animals. Authors believe that organic revolutionary changes in man led to a reduction in the length of epididymis.

Keywords

Human epididymis Inner surface area Microsurgery Total length

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Turner

De Graafs thread: the human epididymis. J Androl 2008; 29 (3): 237-250

Mann

Male reproductive function and semen. Berlin: Springer Verlag 1981.

Hamilton

Structure and function of the epithelium lining the ductuli efferentes, ductus epididymis and ductus deferens in the rat. In: Greep RD, Astwood EB (eds). Handbook of Physiology. Endocrinology, Male Reproductive System. Vol V, Section 7 Washington: American Physiological Society 1975;259.

Hermo

Robaire

Epididymal cell types and functions. In: Robaire B, Hinton BT (ed). The Epididymis: from Molecules to Clinical Practice New York: Plenum Publishers 2002;81.

Guyton

Hall

Text book of Medical Physiology. Philadelphia: Saunders 2006.

Hafez

ESE

Human Reproduction, Conception and Contraception. Lincoln, Harper and Row Publishers 1982;54.

Schoysman

Clinical situations challenging the established concept of epididymal physiology in the human. Acta Eur Fertil 1993; 24 (2): 55-60

Skandhan

Hypothesis: epididymis inhibits sperm motility inside male reproductive tract. Med Hypotheses 2004; 62 (1): 146-150

Snell

Clinical Anatomy by Systems. Philadelphia: Lippinkott Williams and Wilkins 2007;841.

10.

Kim

Goldstein

Anatomy of epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicle. In: Graham SD, Keane TE, Glenn GF. Glenn's Urological Surgery Philadelphia: Lippinkott Williams and Wilkins 7^th edition, 2010;356.

11.

Stranding

ed Gray's Anatomy. The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice Spain: Churchill Livingston 40^th edition, 2008.

12.

Thibodeau

Patton

Anthony's Text Book of Anatomy and Physiology. Maryland Heights, Mosby 18^th edition, 2007.

13.

Tortora

Derrickson

Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Maintenance and Continuity of the Human Body John Wiley & Sons Inc. (Published in Asia) 13^th edition, 2011;1138.

14.

Turek

Male Reproductive Physiology. Wein: Campbell Walsh Urology. London, Saunders; 10^th edition, 2011.

15.

Hafez

ESE

Prasad

MRN

Functional aspects of the epididymis. In: Hafez ESE (ed). Human Semen and Fertility Regulation in Man St Louis: the C V Mosby Company 1976;31-43.

16.

Hafez

E S E

Human Semen and Fertility Regulation in Man. St. Louis: the C V Mosby Company 1976.

17.

Silber

Ord

Borrero

Balmaceda

Asch

New treatment for infertility due to congenital absence of vas deferens. Lancet 1987; 2 (8563): 850-851

18.

Schlegel

Berkeley

Goldstein

et al. Epididymal micropuncture with in vitro fertilization and oocyte micromanipulation for the treatment of unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia. Fertil Steril 1994; 61 (5): 895-901

19.

Bedford

Maturation, transport and fate of spermatozoa in epididymis. In: Greep RD, Astwood EB (eds): Handbook of Physiology. Endocrinology, Male Reproductive System. Vol V, Section 7 Washington: American Physiological Society 1975;303-317.