vas deferens

[ vas def-uh-renz, -er-uhnz ]

noun

, Anatomy, Zoology.

, plural va·sa de·fe·ren·ti·a [vey, -s, uh, def-, uh, -, ren, -shee-, uh, -sh, uh].

1. the duct that transports the sperm from the epididymis to the penis.

vas deferens

/ ˈvæs ˈdɛfəˌrɛnz /

noun

1. anatomy the duct that conveys spermatozoa from the epididymis to the urethra

vas deferens

/ văs′dĕf′ə-rĕnz′ /

, Plural vasa deferentia vā′zədĕf′ə-rĕn′shē-ə

1. Either of two ducts through which sperm passes from a testis to the outside of the body. In mammals, the vas deferens connects the testis to the urethra.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vas deferens¹

First recorded in 1880–85, vas deferens is from New Latin vās dēferēns literally, “vessel for carrying off.” See vas, deferent ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of vas deferens¹

C16: from New Latin, from Latin vās vessel + deferēns, present participle of deferre to bear away

Example Sentences

Studies sponsored by the Male Contraceptive Initiative and Parsemus Foundation are testing hydrogels, a type of polymer that retains water, that block sperm from traveling through the vas deferens.

From Scientific American

Goldstein emphasized that it typically takes about six weeks to ensure sperm is no longer alive in the vas deferens, which should be documented by a sperm test.

From Washington Post

My doctor suggests that the bumps could be sperm granulomas, which can form when your sperm start leaking out of the cut end of your vas deferens.

From Salon

A vasectomy, for the Google-averse, is a minimally invasive, needle- and scalpel-free procedure that “seals” one side of each vas deferens to block sperm from entering the urethra.

From Washington Post

To which we say, if you don’t recognize the vas deferens — er, difference — you probably don’t have any business buying basketball tickets.

From Seattle Times