Sphincter

From late Latin sphincter, from Greek sphinkter, band, contractile muscle, from sphingein, to bind tight. Compare Sphinx, "the strangler".

Related Topics:
Latin - Greek - Sphinx

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A sphincter is a ring-like muscle that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and that relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning.

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Some examples of sphincters include:

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• Anus
• Cardia, at the upper portion of the stomach
• Sphincter urethrae, or Urethral sphincter
• Pyloric sphincter, at the lower end of the stomach
• Sphincter pupillae, or Pupillary sphincter, belonging to the iris in the eye
• Sphincter of Oddi, or Glisson's sphincter, controlling secretions from the liver, pancreas and gall bladder into the duodenum.