sphincter

noun

sphinc·​ter ˈsfiŋ(k)-tər 

: an annular muscle surrounding and able to contract or close a bodily opening

sphincteric

sfiŋ(k)-ˈter-ik 

adjective

Examples of sphincter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Asthma attacks can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, which lets stomach contents flow back into the esophagus.7 4. —Claire Gillespie, Health, 17 Mar. 2024

Most of the time, however, your external sphincter is to blame. —Julia Ries, SELF, 12 Feb. 2024

The other common problem is sphincter incontinence. —Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024

And that's before getting to the part about the giant beetles who talk through their sphincters, the beetles that turn into typewriters Lee works on, giant bugs that are sliced apart in an open market to become a black powder, and everyday caterpillars, just to name a few. —Sarah Sprague, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023

Those are probably marks from the anal sphincter, Chin explains. —Karen Wright, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

But his swallowing tube was wide open and the tissue around the sphincter was red and swollen. —Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024

When you’re aroused, your body relaxes—including your anal sphincter. —Kasandra Braba, SELF, 16 Sep. 2021

This digestive disorder can affect the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), a zone located between the esophagus and the back of the throat. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek sphinktēr, literally, band, from sphingein to bind tight

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sphincter

noun

sphinc·​ter ˈsfiŋ(k)-tər 

: a ringlike muscle surrounding a body opening that is able to make the opening smaller or close it

Medical Definition

sphincter

noun

sphinc·​ter ˈsfiŋ(k)-tər 

: an annular muscle surrounding and able to contract or close a bodily opening see anal sphincter, cardiac sphincter, precapillary sphincter, pyloric sphincter

sphincteral

-t(ə-)rəl 

adjective