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

For example, researchers hope to someday offer men a more easily reversible vasectomy, in which a dissolvable or removable hydrogel is inserted into the vas deferens. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024

And while endoscopic avian vasectomies (where the vas deferens is cut) are less complicated than full castration (where the testes are removed), surgery is still surgery. —Patricia Mazzei Alfonso Duran, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2023

But if all goes to plan, snipping the vas deferens of even just one male peacock should help keep the entire Pinecrest population at a more manageable level. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023

There’s a real vas deferens between the two. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2021

Another nonhormonal method involves reversibly blocking the vas deferens, an organ that transports sperm for ejaculation. —Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022

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. —Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022

Other researchers want to put up a blockade in the vas deferens — a tube between the testicles and urethra — to stop sperm’s passage. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2018

The vas deferens are a pair of hardy tubes that pump sperm from the testes into the urethra. —Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022

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