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

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 ● Oct. 13, 2022

The vas deferens is at first narrow and convoluted, then dilates into a vesicula seminalis at the end of which is a glandular diverticulum called the prostate.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various