sphincter

== English == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”), ultimately of Pre-Greek origin. Possibly related to sphinx (“the strangler”). === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsfɪŋk.tɚ/ === Noun === sphincter (plural sphincters or sphincteres) (anatomy) A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening (such as the anus or the openings of the stomach), constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning. Hyponyms: anal sphincter, lissosphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, pyloric sphincter, rhabdosphincter, sphincter of Oddi, upper esophageal sphincter, urethral sphincter ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== sphinx ==== Translations ==== === See also === cardia === References === “sphincter”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022. “sphincter”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. == French == === Etymology === Borrowed from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /sfɛ̃k.tɛʁ/ === Noun === sphincter m (plural sphincters) (anatomy) sphincter === Further reading === “sphincter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Latin == === Etymology === Borrowed from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”), from σφῐ́γγω (sphĭ́ngō, “to bind tight or fast”) +‎ -τήρ (-tḗr, “-er, -or”, nominal suffix). === Pronunciation === (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈsfiŋk.ter] === Noun === sphinctēr m (genitive sphinctēris); third declension (Late Latin) (anatomy) The sphincter, the muscle of the anus. ==== Inflection ==== Third-declension noun. ==== Descendants ==== → English: sphincter → French: sphincter