The Wonders of the Epididymis
Ever since mammals have been reproducing there has been the epididymis. It has survived centuries upon centuries of war, famine, drought, extinction, and many other types of assault on the mammalian race. Due to its ability to endure these hardships, the epididymis is able to be studied today.
The epididymis sits to the rear of each testicle connecting the efferent ducts (see #2 in diagram) to the vas deferens (see #7 in diagram). The majority of of the epididymis is made up of muscle tissue. It contains stereocilla along the inner lining of it's body (see #4 in diagram). Stereocilla act as very small creases (chambers, if you will) within the body of the epididymis, allowing for greater surface area for the maturation process to take place. The maturation process of sperm in the epididymis will be covered in the next paragraph.
The function of the epididymis is quite simple, yet vital to the continuation of the human race and mankind as we know it. It receives sperm from the efferent ducts and allows the sperm to mature by letting it grow a small, flexible tail. This tail of sorts enables the sperm to “swim”. Prior to ejaculation, the sperm are stored in the lower part of the epididymis (see #5 in diagram). During sex, when ejaculation occurs, the epididymis releases the stored sperm into the vas deferens which then sets the sperm off on it's way to a magical wonderland called the vagina. Just before being released out of the body, the sperm passes through other organs in the reproductive system which mix the sperm with other fluids to form semen.