sphincter

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“
This is called the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a thick ring of circular smooth muscle at the point between the esophagus and the stomach.

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Definitions (18)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

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

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (14)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • Beyond his distended sphincter, the walls of his rectum were sleek and greasy. —  XXXX
  • Modern Living contains sphincter-tightening synthesizer and lots of strings and horns. —  The Pitch | Complete Issue
  • GERD is caused by a defective lower esophageal sphincter, a ring-like muscular valve that surrounds the esophagus. —  Health News from Medical News Today
  • If the sphincter is removed, the patient must have a special bag, called an ostomy pouch, that collects the waste. —  CNN.com
  • This is called the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a thick ring of circular smooth muscle at the point between the esophagus and the stomach. —  CreationWiki - Recent changes [en]
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Late Latin sphinctēr, from Greek sphinktēr, from sphingein, to bind tight.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. New Latin, from Latin sphincter, from Greek σφιγκτήρ, anything which binds tight, a lace, a band, from σφίγγειν, shut tight, close.
 

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/ˈsfɪŋktər/
by American Heritage

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