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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin vās deferens, literally, "downward-conveying vessel"

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

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