sphincter

(sfiŋk′tər)

noun

Anat. a ring-shaped muscle that surrounds a natural opening in the body and can open or close it by expanding or contracting

Origin: LL < Gr sphinktēr < sphingein, to draw close < IE *spheig- < base *spēi-, to flourish, grow thick > speed, spare

Related Forms:

See sphincter in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A ringlike muscle that normally maintains constriction of a body passage or orifice and that relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin sphinctēr

Origin: , from Greek sphinktēr

Origin: , from sphingein, to bind tight

Related Forms:

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