vas deferens

American  

[vas def-uh-renz, -er-uhnz] / ˈvæs ˈdɛf əˌrɛnz, -ər ənz /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

• vasa deferentia
  plural

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

---

vas deferens British  

/ ˈvæs ˈdɛfəˌrɛnz /

noun

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

---

vas deferens Scientific  

/ văs′dĕf′ə-rĕnz′ /

• vasa deferentia
  plural

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.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• vasa deferentia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vas deferens

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vas deferens

The procedure involves the cutting and then clamping or sealing of the vas deferens, a tube on each testicle that carries sperm to the urethra.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

For this investigation, the researchers from the Institute of Agricultural Sciences used samples of testicles, epididymis and vas deferens from 118 freshly slaughtered bulls of reproductive age.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 16, 2024

A vasectomy blocks the vas deferens, the tubes that are the highway for sperm between the testes and penis.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 2, 2023

Another nonhormonal product, called Vasalgel, is a polymer hydrogel that physically blocks sperm in the vas deferens so they cannot reach an egg.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 25, 2017

The paired testes of the male consist of a variable number of seminal tubes, those of each testis opening into a vas deferens.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various