Britannica AI Icon

vas efferens

anatomy
Also known as: vasa efferentia

Quick Summary

The vas efferens, also known as the ductuli efferentes, are a series of 15 to 20 small ducts that transport sperm from the testes to the epididymis. These ducts are lined with cells containing pigment and secretory granules, as well as cilia, which are hair-like structures that aid in sperm movement.1

The epididymis is a coiled tube where sperm mature and are stored. It has three parts: the head, body, and tail. Sperm mature in the head and body, and are stored in the tail. The epididymis receives sperm from the ductuli efferentes and connects to the ductus epididymidis, which then leads to the ductus deferens (vas deferens). The vas deferens is a thick-walled tube that carries sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.