Stereocilia-Head of the Epididymis

Protrusions, sometimes bizarrely shaped, project from the apex of epithelial cells of the epididymal head (caput epididymidis) . They are the bases for the emerging stereocilia, which are cut lengthwise in this figure (a). The stereocilia of the epididymal head are thin, thread-like cytoplasmic processes. Each contains a densely packed microfilament bundle (actin filament skeleton ). Some of the microfilaments are connected via thin bridges. Several such thin bridges between cytoplasmic processes (stereocilia ) are visible in the cross-section (b). Note the terminal bar network in Figure a.

Electron microscopy; magnifications: a) × 11 300; b) × 17 500

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .