sphincter

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /ˈsfɪŋktə/

Noun

sphincter (plural sphincters)

1. (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

   the iris sphincter in the eye

   • 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 […]

   1. (in particular) The internal or external anal sphincter, to the extent these are distinguished as two separate entities.

Synonyms

• anatomical sphincter

Related terms

• sphinx

Translations

• French: sphincter
• German: Schließmuskel, Sphinkter
• Italian: sfintere
• Portuguese: esfíncter
• Russian: сфи́нктер
• Spanish: esfínter

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