what does the epididymis do

The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that is an essential reproductive organ in males. It is situated posterior and somewhat lateral to the testis and is invested completely by the tunica vaginalis. The epididymis consists of three main regions: the head, body, and tail. The primary function of the epididymis is the storage, maturation, and transport of sperm cells. The head of the epididymis stores sperm until it is ready to undergo maturation, while the body is a long, twisted tube where the sperm matures. The tail connects to the deferent duct, also referred to as the ductus deferens or vas deferens, from where the sperm is transported to the ejaculatory duct. The epididymis also has mechanisms to aid in the protection of sperm cells during epididymal transit from damage caused by the external environment.