sphincter

From Middle French sphincter, from Late Latin sphincter, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek σφιγκτήρ (sphinktḗr, “band, contractile muscle”), from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “I bind tight”). Compare sphinx, "the strangler".

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsfɪŋktə/

sphincter (plural sphincters)

1. (anatomy) A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening, constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning.

   the sphincter of the bladder

   the iris sphincter in the eye

   • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance (Faber & Faber, 2004: Avignon Quintet), page 836:

     She decided that she would force him to climax first by the sheer strength of her young animal control, the strength of her sphincters […]

   1. (in particular) The internal or external anal sphincter, to the extent these are distinguished as two separate entities.

• anatomical sphincter

• sphinx

• cardia

Borrowed from Ancient Greek σφιγκτήρ (sphinktḗr), from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “to bind tight”).

• IPA^(key): /sfɛ̃k.tɛʁ/

sphincter m (plural sphincters)

1. (anatomy) sphincter

• “sphincter” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).