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sphincter

sphincter

17 7.5
A ring of muscle that closes an opening in the body
  • noun
  • /ˈsfɪŋktər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esfínter
  • And the way that anti acids work is they essentially cause the sphincters above the gut to cinch shut.
  • anal sphincter
  • external sphincter
  • esophageal sphincter

And to that end, we owe our sphincters a big thank you.

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Examples

  • And it was also true that there were moments when he couldn't quite keep his sphincter clamped shut.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Defecography showed that the new sphincter was functioning.

    Academic text (1992)
  • I have very strong sphincter muscles, sir.

  • That, with a simultaneous relaxing of the sphincter.

  • Serious incontinence due to anal sphincter damage should be treated by surgery.

    Academic text (1992)
  • With repeated trauma, friction, and stretching, the sphincter loses its tone and its ability to maintain a tight seal.

    Blog text (13)
  • Serious fecal incontinence due to anal sphincter damage should be treated by surgery.

    Academic text (1992)
  • If Sam massages his external sphincter too vigorously, he bleeds.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The items measured are basic self-care, sphincter control, transfers, locomotion, communication, and social cognition.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The doctor explained that the lower esophageal sphincter helps prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

Synonyms

sphincter muscle
vssphincter
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A ring of muscle that closes an opening in the body

is the single technical term often used instead of the longer phrase
anatomical sphincter
vssphincter
  • Specialized
5.8

A ring of muscle that closes or controls an opening in the body

is the general term without the anatomical label

Compounds

anal sphincter
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A ring of muscle around the anus that controls when you pass stool

sphincter muscle
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A ring of muscle that closes an opening in the body

bladder sphincter
  • Specialized
5.6

A ring of muscle that holds urine in the bladder and lets it out through a tube

cardiac sphincter
  • Specialized
6.3

A ring of muscle where the food pipe meets the stomach that stops food and acid going back up

anatomical sphincter
  • Specialized
5.8

A ring of muscle that closes or controls an opening in the body

8.9

A ring of muscle in the eye that makes the pupil smaller in bright light

9.6

A ring of muscle at the end of the stomach that controls food entering the small intestine

8.4

A muscle around the tube that carries urine that you can tighten to hold urine

9.8

A ring of muscle around the bladder opening that controls urine flow

7.9

A ring of muscle around the anus that controls bowel movements

A ring of muscle around the anus that you use to stop or let out poop

A ring of muscle inside the anus that keeps stool in without thinking

A muscle that controls the flow of bile into the small intestine

A muscle that controls the opening of the main tube from the pancreas to the small intestine

pupillary sphincter
  • Specialized
8.9

A ring of muscle in the coloured part of the eye that makes the pupil smaller

pyloric sphincter
  • Specialized
8.4

A ring of muscle at the end of the stomach that controls food entering the small intestine

8.3

A ring of muscle that acts like a valve but cannot be seen as a separate band

sphincter ani
  • Specialized
9.9

A ring of muscle around the anus that controls passing stool

urethral sphincter
  • Specialized
7.5

Muscle around the tube from the bladder that closes to stop urine

Surface Forms

sphincter singular
sphincters plural

Etymology

Sphincter comes from an old Greek root sphingein, which means 'to squeeze' or 'to bind'. So a sphincter is a ring of muscle that 'squeezes' shut a natural opening in the body.