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vas deferens
noun
vas def·er·ens
ˈvas-ˈde-fə-rənz
-ˌrenz
plural vasa deferentia
ˈvā-zə-ˌde-fə-ˈren(t)-sh(ē-)ə
: a sperm-carrying duct especially of a higher vertebrate that in the human male is a thick-walled tube about two feet (0.61 meters) long that begins at and is continuous with the tail of the epididymis and eventually joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct
Examples of vas deferens in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sperm travel from the epididymis to the vas deferens.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024
Otherwise, there is little evidence of symptoms that indicate your vas deferens grew back together after a vasectomy.
—Jamin Brahmbhatt, Verywell Health, 11 July 2024
The outpatient procedure, which is typically performed in about half an hour, entails the cutting and sealing of tubes called the vas deferens, blocking the passage of sperm from the testicles to the urethra and stopping the sperm from being released during ejaculation.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
This surgery cuts the vas deferens, which are tubes that carry sperm from the testes to the urethra.
—Claire Gillespie, Health, 19 June 2024
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin vās deferens, literally, "downward-conveying vessel"
First Known Use
1578, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near vas deferens
Cite this Entry
“Vas deferens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vas%20deferens. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
vas deferens
noun
vas def·er·ens
ˈvas-ˈdef-ə-rənz
-ˌrenz
plural vasa deferentia
ˌvā-zə-ˌdef-ə-ˈren-ch(ē-)ə
: a bodily tube especially in a higher vertebrate that serves to carry sperm
Medical Definition
vas deferens
noun
vas def·er·ens
-ˈdef-ə-rənz, -ˌrenz
plural vasa deferentia
-ˌdef-ə-ˈren-ch(ē-)ə
: a sperm-carrying duct especially of a higher vertebrate that in humans is a small but thick-walled tube about two feet (0.6 meter) long formed by the union of the vasa efferentia, is greatly convoluted in its proximal portion, begins at and is continuous with the tail of the epididymis, runs in the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal, and descends into the pelvis where it joins the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct
called also ductus deferens, spermatic duct
More from Merriam-Webster on vas deferens
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vas deferens
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