Histology · Reproductive system
Epididymis, vas deferens, seminal glands and prostate !
- Organ
The ducts mature and move sperm; the glands add the fluid that makes up most of semen.
Updated 2026-11-01
See it in 3D: Epididymis · Ductus deferens · Seminal vesicles · Prostate · Bulbourethral glands
What it is
From the testis, sperm pass into the epididymis, where they mature and gain motility, then into the vas deferens, with its very thick muscular wall. The seminal glands and the prostate supply most of the semen. Each structure has an epithelium and wall that identify it, and the prostate hosts two very common diseases of older men: benign prostatic hyperplasia and cancer.
Structure
- Efferent ductules: alternating groups of tall ciliated and short cells, giving a scalloped lumen.
- Epididymis: a single, tightly coiled tube cut many times, with round lumens full of sperm.
- Prostate: irregular glands with a two-layer epithelium (secretory and basal cells) and a smooth muscle stroma.
Function
- Mature, store and transport sperm.
- Add fructose and prostaglandins (seminal glands), and an alkaline fluid with enzymes such as PSA that liquefies semen (prostate).
- The bulbourethral glands release mucus that lubricates and neutralises the urethra.
Male ducts and glands: how to recognise them
| Structure | Epithelium | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Epididymis | Pseudostratified columnar with stereocilia | Coiled tube with sperm in the lumen; sperm gain motility here |
| Vas deferens | Pseudostratified columnar with stereocilia | Three-layer muscle, very thick for its lumen |
| Seminal gland | Pseudostratified or simple columnar | Branching mucosal folds; fructose-rich fluid |
| Bulbourethral gland | Simple columnar mucous | Clear mucus that lubricates the urethra |
| Prostate | Two-layer columnar: secretory and basal cells | Fibromuscular stroma, corpora amylacea; PSA |
Markers
- PSA
- p63 and high-molecular-weight keratins (basal cells)
- AMACR (carcinoma)
Clinical notes
- In prostate carcinoma the basal cell layer is lost; its absence helps the diagnosis on biopsy.
- Prostate cancer grade (Gleason) is based on gland architecture, not on nuclei.
- Epididymitis: in young men usually a sexually transmitted infection; in older men, urinary bacteria.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What do the epithelia of the epididymis and vas deferens have in common?
Both are pseudostratified columnar with stereocilia, long non-motile microvilli.
In which prostate zone does benign hyperplasia arise, and in which does carcinoma?
Hyperplasia in the transition zone around the urethra; carcinoma mostly in the peripheral zone.
Which biopsy finding helps tell prostate carcinoma from a benign gland?
Absence of the basal cell layer, checked with p63 or high-molecular-weight keratins.
Which gland supplies most of the volume of semen?
The seminal glands, with a fructose-rich fluid.
See it in 3D
The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.
Related
- Testis: seminiferous tubules, Sertoli and Leydig cells, spermatogenesis
- Cilia, microvilli and stereocilia
- Ureter, bladder and urethra: urothelium
- Smooth muscle
Related conditions
Educational content on normal microscopic structure and its clinical relevance; no substitute for studying slides or for a health professional's advice.
Sources: Duct System (National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, 2026); Accessory Glands (National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, 2026); 27.1 Anatomy and Physiology of the Testicular Reproductive System (OpenStax, Rice University, 2022).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.