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Glite Dictionary
ductus deferens

ductus deferens

7.3
A tube in the male body that carries sperm from where they are stored to the tube that leads out
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌktəs ˈdɛfərɛnz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ducto deferente
  • The ductus deferens is cut and sealed during a vasectomy procedure.

Examples

  • Damage to the ductus deferens can lead to male infertility.

  • Anatomy textbooks provide detailed diagrams of the ductus deferens and its function.

  • The ductus deferens is vital.

  • It connects to the ductus deferens.

  • Anatomy textbooks provide detailed diagrams of the ductus deferens and its function.

  • Damage to the ductus deferens can lead to male infertility.

  • The ductus deferens is cut and sealed during a vasectomy procedure.

Synonyms

vas deferens
vsductus deferens
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A tube in the male body that carries sperm from a testicle to the urethra

has identical meaning but uses a different standard name
seminal duct
vsductus deferens
  • Specialized
7.4

A tube that carries sperm from the testicle to the penis

is specific to origin at the epididymis rather than the whole testis
deferens
vsductus deferens
  • Specialized
9.9

A tube in the male body that carries sperm from the testicle to the urethra

focuses on transport to the ejaculatory duct rather than to the urethra

Surface Forms

ductus deferens singular
ductus deferentes plural

Morphology

ductus + deferens

The term is a straightforward anatomical compound: 'ductus' denotes a duct or channel and 'deferens' denotes carrying away, so the full meaning (a tube that carries sperm) is directly built from the parts. Although the words are technical/Latin, the compositional pattern is regular in anatomical nomenclature and would be transparent to a learner who already knows the constituent meanings.

Etymology

Ductus deferens comes from Latin words ductus meaning 'to lead' and deferens meaning 'to carry away'. So the name gives a simple picture: a small tube that carries sperm from where it is stored toward the outside of the body.