Sphincter
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈsfɪŋktə/
Origin
From Late Latin sphincter, from Ancient Greek ÏƒÏ†Î¹Î³ÎºÏ„Î®Ï (sphinktÄ“r, "band, contractile muscle"), from σφίγγω (sphingÅ, "I bind tight"). Compare sphinx, "the strangler".
Full definition of sphincter
Noun
sphincter
(plural sphincters)- (anatomy) A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening, constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning.the sphincter of the bladder
- 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance (Faber & Faber, 2004: Avignon Quintet), page 836:She decided that she would force him to climax first by the sheer strength of her young animal control, the strength of her sphincters ...
- (in particular) The internal or external anal sphincter, to the extent these are distinguished as two separate entities.