noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation, UK:väsʹ rĕkʹtəm
Received-Pronunciation, UK:/ˈvɑːs ˈɹɛktəm/
1
noun
Meaning 1
One of a number of straight vasa (tubes), specifically:
A straight seminiferous tubule conveying semen from its pertaining tubulus seminiferus contortus (convoluted seminiferous tubule) to the rete testis of the testicle that contains it; now more commonly called the tubulus seminiferus rectus (straight seminiferous tubule).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, plural-normally
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
One of a number of straight vasa (tubes), specifically:
Any one of many straight capillaries in the kidney that branch off from the arteriolae efferentes (efferent arterioles) of juxtamedullary nephrons, enter the medulla, and surround the loop of Henle, where they function to absorb water and to secrete salt and urea into the renal interstitium, thereby facilitating the production of concentrated urine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural-normally
Qualifier: sometimes more fully
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
One of a number of straight vasa (tubes), specifically:
Any one of numerous straight arteries that branch off from the arcades of the mesentery of the jejunum and ileum whence they head toward the small intestine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural-normally
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
First attested in 1750. From Latin vās (“vessel”) + rēctum (neuter nominative singular of rēctus, “straight”), literally “straight vessel”.
