sphincter
A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening, constricting and relaxing…A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening (such as the anus or the openings of the stomach), constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning.
» Your sphincter is the muscle at the end of your digestive tract.
Meaning
1 sensesA ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening (such as the anus or the openings of the stomach), constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning.
the sphincter of the bladder
the iris sphincter in the eye
Schließmuskel, Sphinkter
сфи́нктерsfínktɛr
сфі́нктерsfínkter
- a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening
Examples
1 sentencesYour sphincter is the muscle at the end of your digestive tract.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Learned borrowing from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient GreekLearned borrowing from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”), ultimately of Pre-Greek origin. Possibly related to sphinx (“the strangler”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: sphincters / sphincteres| Singular | sphincter |
|---|---|
| Plural | sphincters / sphincteres |
regular
Synonyms
2 synonyms- a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening:anatomical sphinctersphincter muscle