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Glite Dictionary
anatomical sphincter

anatomical sphincter

5.8
A ring of muscle that closes or controls an opening in the body
  • noun
  • /ˌænəˈtɑːmɪkəl ˈsfɪŋktər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esfínter anatómico
  • The lower esophageal anatomical sphincter prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

Examples

  • The doctor explained how the pupil's anatomical sphincter controls the amount of light entering the eye.

  • A malfunctioning anatomical sphincter can lead to incontinence or digestive problems.

  • The anatomical sphincter helps control the flow of urine.

  • She studied the anatomical sphincters in her biology class.

  • The lower esophageal anatomical sphincter prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

  • A malfunctioning anatomical sphincter can lead to incontinence or digestive problems.

  • The anatomical sphincter helps control the flow of urine.

Synonyms

sphincter
vsanatomical sphincter
  • Specialized
17 7.5

A ring of muscle that closes an opening in the body

is broader and applies to openings or passages not only natural ones
sphincter muscle
vsanatomical sphincter
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A ring of muscle that closes an opening in the body

is the formal anatomical term for such muscles in body passages

How Anatomical

orbicularis
  • Specialized
9.9
anatomical sphincter
  • Specialized
5.8
physiological sphincter
  • Specialized
8.3

Surface Forms

anatomical sphincter singular
anatomical sphincters plural

Morphology

anatomical + sphincter

The meaning is directly compositional: 'anatomical' specifies that the referent is part of body structure and 'sphincter' denotes a muscle that controls closure, so the combined phrase simply refers to a bodily sphincter. This literal adjective + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Anatomical sphincter names a ring of muscle in the body. Think of sphincter as a tight gate around an opening that squeezes to 'close' or 'control' the flow, so the phrase means a muscle that stops or controls a passage.