The word "deferens" refers to the duct that carries sperm from the testicle to the urethra in males. The spelling of this word is derived from its Latin roots, and can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. The pronunciation of "deferens" is /dɪˈfɛrəns/, with the first syllable pronounced as "dih", the second syllable as "fur", and the final syllable as "enz". The emphasis is on the second syllable, making it sound like "dih-FUR-enz".
Deferens, also known as the vas deferens, is a term that refers to a specific tubular structure found in the male reproductive system. It is a part of the spermatic duct system responsible for transporting sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts.
Anatomically, the deferens is a long, muscular tube that connects the testes to the urethra. It is located within the spermatic cord, a bundle of structures that extend from the abdomen down to the scrotum. The deferens ascends from the scrotum, passes through the inguinal canal, and enters the abdominal cavity where it loops around the urinary bladder before joining the duct of the seminal vesicle to form the ejaculatory duct. The deferens is enclosed within layers of connective tissue that help protect and support its structure.
The primary function of the deferens is to transport mature sperm, which are produced in the testes, to the urethra where they can be expelled during ejaculation. Inside the deferens, the sperm combine with fluids from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland, forming semen. This process occurs as the deferens contracts and propels sperm through its muscular walls.
In summary, the deferens, or vas deferens, is a tubular structure that connects the testes to the urethra in the male reproductive system. It is responsible for transporting sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts, where they combine with seminal fluids to form semen.
Ductus (or vas) deferens.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "deferens" has its etymology rooted in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "deferre", which is a combination of "de" meaning "away" or "down" and "ferre" meaning "to carry". Thus, "deferens" can be translated as "carrying away" or "carrying down". In the context of anatomy, the word refers to the vas deferens, a duct that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts in males.