Epididymis

Question 1

Excurrent duct system the direction of flow

Answer 1

Rete testis —> efferent ducts —> epididymis, then the vas deferens (ductus deferens)

Question 2

Name the three major regions of the epididymis and the name of the small segment

Answer 2

Initial segment —> closest to efferent ducts ( doesn’t really count as a segment)
Head (caput)
Body (corpus)
Tail (cauda) - furtherest from efferent ducts

Question 3

the significance of the Location of the epididymis

Answer 3

Positioning of epididymis plays a large role in orientation of testis

Question 4

List 4 Fx of epididymis

Answer 4

Sperm transport
Sperm storage
Sperm maturation
Absorption of excess rete fluid

Question 5

Ligaments of the epididymis (2)

Answer 5

Proper ligament of testis = epididymis (tail) to scrotum

Ligament of tail of epididymis = tail of the epididymis to scrotum

Question 6

What is the significance of the tail of epididymis?

Answer 6

Knowing its location is meaningful because it is often palpated to determine its breeding soundness

Question 7

Epididymis tail location on a bull

Answer 7

ventral as the testis are orientated pointing down

Question 8

epididymis tail ltx in ram

Answer 8

Question 9

Stallion epididymis tail location

Answer 9

Question 10

Boar epididymis

Answer 10

Question 11

Epididymis tail ltx in dog

Answer 11

Question 12

epididymis tail Ltx in a tom

Answer 12

Question 13

What are the components of the excurrent duct system

Answer 13

Rete testis —> Efferent duct —> Epididymis —> Vas deferens

Question 14

Explain the relation between the efferent ducts and the epididymis duct

Answer 14

There are multiple efferent ducts which merge into the epididymis duct

Question 14

Explain the relation between the efferent ducts and the epididymis duct

Answer 14

There are multiple efferent ducts which merge into the epididymis duct

Question 15

The two cell types of the epithelium of the epithelium

Answer 15

Cuboidal epithelial cells
Columnar epithelial cells (ciliated)
There is also smooth muscle present

Question 16

How is the sperm propelled in the epididymis?

Answer 16

The Cilla on columnar cells and the contraction of smooth muscle

Question 17

Explain the histology of epididymal structure

Answer 17

Question 18

Epididymis epithelium

Answer 18

Has sterocillia on the tall pseudostratified columnar epithelium - this assist with locomotion.

Question 19

Explain the progression of the layers of epididymis as you go down to different parts of the epididymal structure

Answer 19

Goes form head to tail
decreasing epithelial heigh
Increase smooth muscle

initial segment
caput (head)
Corpus (body)
Cauda ( tail)

Question 20

How to not mistake the epididymis for testis

Answer 20

Testies
epithelium has lots of different cells and is quite thick as it is full of sperm developing in different stages
Lined by flat myoid cells, a single layer
High density of tubules

Epididymis 
Epithelium is columnar 
Cilia 
Smooth muscle layer
Fewer, large tubules

Question 21

Vas deferenes structure

Answer 21

The vas deferens structure
pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Is surrounded by two thick layers of smooth muscle layers ( inner is circular, outer longitudinal)

Question 22

Basic functions of the epididymis (3)

Answer 22

Sperm are produced in the testes and stored in the epididymis
Sperm maturation
sperm immature in the head (caput) and body (corpus)
Fully mature in the tail (cauda)
Transport