sphincter

pronunciation

How to pronounce sphincter in British English: UK [ˈsfɪŋktə(r)]word uk audio image

How to pronounce sphincter in American English: US [ˈsfɪŋktɚ] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening

Word Origin

sphincter (n.)
1570s, from Middle French sphincter, from Late Latin sphincter "contractile muscle," from Greek sphinkter "band, lace, anything that binds tight," from sphingein "to squeeze, bind," of unknown origin. First used in anatomical sense by Galen. There are several in the body; the one usually meant is the sphincter ani.

Example

1. The resulting semifluid paste-chyme-is sealed in the stomach by two ringlike sphincter muscles for several hours and then released in short bursts into theduodenum .
2. Effect of truncal vagotomy on sphincter of oddi in dogs .
3. Heard you had a real sphincter pucker last night .
4. Alleviating cramping in the rectal sphincter .
5. They are using synthetic polymer gels that expand and contract in response to small electrical currents to create synthetic muscles for replacing heart valves , sphincter muscles and , eventually , larger muscles .

more: >How to Use "sphincter" with Example Sentences