|
Sphincter - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Annulus, Areola, Aureole, Circle, Circuit, Circumference, Circus, Corona, Coronet, Crown, Cycle, Diadem, Discus, Disk, Garland, Glory, Halo, Lasso, Loop |
|
|
|
From late Latin sphincter, from Greek sphinkter, band, contractile muscle, from sphingein, to bind tight.
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.
Some examples of sphincters include:
|
|
|
