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Glite Dictionary
cardiac sphincter

cardiac sphincter

6.3
A ring of muscle where the food pipe meets the stomach that stops food and acid going back up
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑrdɪæk ˈsfɪŋktər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esfínter cardiaco
  • The cardiac sphincter prevents acidic stomach contents from moving back up into the esophagus.

Examples

  • When the cardiac sphincter does not function properly, it can result in acid reflux or heartburn.

  • A malfunctioning cardiac sphincter can cause heartburn.

  • Surgeons sometimes examine the cardiac sphincter in patients with persistent digestive issues.

  • The cardiac sphincter prevents acid reflux.

  • The cardiac sphincter acts as a valve, stopping food and acid from going back into the esophagus.

  • If the cardiac sphincter is weak, you may experience frequent acid reflux.

  • Doctors study the cardiac sphincter to understand its role in preventing heartburn and digestive problems.

Surface Forms

cardiac sphincter singular
cardiac sphincters plural

Morphology

cardiac + sphincter

The phrase is compositionally built — a 'sphincter' is a closing muscle and 'cardiac' modifies it, so a learner can infer it is a sphincter associated with the cardiac area. However, 'cardiac' typically evokes the heart, while the term actually denotes the valve at the esophagus–stomach junction (cardiac region of the stomach), a specialized anatomical usage that may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner. Because the relation is partly transparent but relies on technical anatomical knowledge and a non-obvious sense of 'cardiac,' it is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

The noun cardiac sphincter comes from two simple words: cardiac, pointing to the stomach area near the heart, and sphincter, a ring of muscle that closes like a door. This ring works as a 'valve' to keep food and acid from coming back up, so the name helps you remember its job.