sphinc·ter (sf ngk t r)n. A ringlike muscle that normally maintains constriction of a body passage or orifice and that relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning. [Late Latin sphinct  r, from Greek sphinktr, from sphingein, to bind tight.]sphinc ter·al adj. |
sphincter [ˈsfɪŋktə]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Anatomy a ring of muscle surrounding the opening of a hollow organ or body and contracting to close it
[from Late Latin, from Greek sphinkter, from sphingein to grip tightly]
sphincteral adj
| sphincter (sfngktr) A ring-shaped muscle that encircles an opening or passage in the body. The opening and closing of the anus is controlled by contraction and relaxation of a sphincter, as is the opening that leads to the stomach from the esophagus. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | sphincter - a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening physiological sphincter - a sphincter that is not recognizable at autopsy because its resting arrangement cannot be distinguished from adjacent tissue musculus sphincter urethrae, urethral sphincter - a striated sphincter muscle that constricts the urethra bladder sphincter, musculus sphincter vesicae - the sphincter muscle of the urinary bladder; made up of a thickened muscular layer of bladder around the urethral opening musculus sphincter ductus choledochi - the smooth muscle sphincter of the common bile duct musculus sphincter ductus pancreatici - the smooth muscle sphincter of the main pancreatic duct musculus sphincter pupillae, pupillary sphincter - a ring of smooth muscle surrounding the iris musculus sphincter pylori, pyloric sphincter, pyloric valve - the sphincter muscle of the pylorus that separates the stomach from the duodenum |
Translations
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