Vasa Deferentia

The male reproductive system is filled with ominous-sounding jargon. Vasa deferentia is found in the majority of male vertebrates i.e. animals with backbones. The vas deferens is singularly shown, but the vasa deferentia is represented plurally as well. In the human male body, there are two vas deferens, which are channels that carry sperm from the epididymis to the urethra for ejaculation. 

The Reproductive System of Men

When we consider human reproduction, we often focus on all of the procedures that the body goes through. The male reproductive system, or the internal and external systems responsible for the creation of new life, gives a variety of fascinating characteristics that you may not have been aware of. Some of them are detailed below:

• The sperm is produced by the male reproductive system. It is the smallest human cell.
• In his lifetime, a man generates around 500 billion sperm cells.
• The testicles are composed of a series of tubes that would be around 3 feet long if unwound. 
• To compete with the testes, the epididymis’s tubes would reach a length of 20 feet if uncoiled.
• There is a muscle that descends and lifts the testicles to maintain a specified temperature.
• A vasectomy is a definitive technique of birth control that involves the amputation of the vasa deferentia.

Vasa Deferentia

Vasa deferentia Originate from the Wolffian duct. It comes out of the cauda epididymis, enters into the abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal, forms a loop around the ureter and joins the duct of a seminal vesicle to form an ejaculatory duct.

Near its end, the vas deferens are enlarged to form a spindle-like ampulla for the temporary storage of sperm. Vas deferens has a muscular wall lined with pseudostratified epithelium having stereocilia on many cells. It is also glandular and contributes its secretion to seminal fluid.  After entwining with the ureter it comes down and receives a duct from a seminal vesicle. It is cut or tied off as the birth-control measure called vasectomy.

The function of The Vasa Deferentia

Let us track the journey of sperm during ejaculation to better understand the function of the vasa deferentia. Vas deferens is Latin for ‘carrying away vessel’. This makes sense because it transports sperm from the testicles. Sperm is created in the testes. It then flows to the epididymis, a network of small tubes that transports sperm to the vas deferens. If you detach the tubes, they will reach a height of 20 feet. The epididymis is in the shape of a half-moon, and sperm develop as they pass through it. In Greek, epididymis means on or over the testicle. 

When a man gets sexually stimulated, blood flows into the penis, causing it to stay erect. The mature sperm enters each epididymis and proceeds through the vasa deferentia to a structure known as the ampulla. This is essentially an extended section of the vas deferens. Other fluids are combined with the sperm in the ampulla. The sperm and other fluids travel even beyond the prostate, a male organ that contributes a milky fluid to the sperm. Once in the vagina, this fluid shields and helps the sperm. 

The vas deferens, also known as the ductus deferens, transport sperm from the epididymis portion to the ejaculatory ducts to result in ejaculation. They are the transit mechanism that facilitates the transportation of sperm.

The smooth muscle in the sidewalls of the vas deferens tightens reflexively during ejaculation, driving the sperm forward. This is also referred to as peristalsis. Each vas deferens transmits sperm into the urethra, where it partly mixes with secretions from male auxiliary sex ducts such as the seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and prostate gland which make up the vast majority of semen.

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a technique of prevention in which the vasa deferentia is permanently cut, though this can be restored in some situations. A recent variant, usually described as a vasectomy even though the vas is not severed, includes injecting an obstructing material into the ductus to prevent the passage of sperm. Male contraceptive research has focussed on the vas, including using the intra vas technology and reversible sperm suppression under guidance.

Conclusion

The vasa deferentia are muscular tubes that transfer sperm from the epididymis to the urethra during ejaculation. The vas deferens, also called the ductus deferens, are a component of the male reproductive system in so many vertebrates. The ducts transfer sperm from the epididymis portion to the ejaculatory ducts in readiness for ejaculation. The vas deferens is a loosely coiled tube that emerges from the abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal. It is fed by an associated artery. This artery typically comes from the superior vesical artery, a branching of the internal iliac artery. The vas deferens are connected to the body by a variety of nerve endings. A vasectomy is a technique of prevention in which the vasa deferentia is permanently cut, though this can be restored in some situations.