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vas deferens

[ vas -def-uh-renz, -er-uhnz ]
/ ˈvæs ˈdɛf əˌrɛnz, -ər ənz /
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noun, plural va·sa de·fe·ren·ti·a [vey-suh -def-uh-ren-shee-uh, -shuh]. /ˈveɪ sə ˌdɛf əˈrɛn ʃi ə, -ʃə/. Anatomy, Zoology.

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

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See also vas efferens.

Origin of vas deferens

First recorded in 1880–85, vas deferens is from New Latin vās dēferēns literally, “vessel for carrying off.” See vas, deferent2

Words nearby vas deferens

vasculitis, vasculo-, vasculomyelinopathy, vasculopathy, vasculum, vas deferens, vase, vasectomize, vasectomy, vas efferens, Vaseline
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

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British Dictionary definitions for vas deferens

vas deferens
/ (ˈvæs ˈdɛfəˌrɛnz) /

noun plural vasa deferentia (ˈveɪsə ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃɪə)

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

Word Origin for vas deferens

C16: from New Latin, from Latin vās vessel + deferēns, present participle of deferre to bear away
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for vas deferens

vas deferens
[ văs′ dĕf′ər-ənz, -ə-rĕnz′ ]

n. pl. vasa def•er•en•ti•a (dĕf′ə-rĕn′shē-ə)

The main secretory duct of the testicle, through which semen is carried from the epididymis to the prostatic urethra, where it ends as the ejaculatory duct.deferent duct spermatic duct spermiduct
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for vas deferens

vas deferens
[ văs′ dĕf′ə-rĕnz′ ]

Plural vasa deferentia (vā′zə dĕf′ə-rĕn′shē-ə)

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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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