ANAL SPHINCTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does anal sphincter mean? 

• ANAL SPHINCTER (noun)
  The noun ANAL SPHINCTER has 1 sense:

1. the sphincter muscle of the anus

  Familiarity information: ANAL SPHINCTER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANAL SPHINCTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sphincter muscle of the anus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

anal sphincter; musculus sphincter ani; sphincter ani

Hypernyms ("anal sphincter" is a kind of...):

anatomical sphincter; sphincter; sphincter muscle (a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening)

Meronyms (parts of "anal sphincter"):

musculus sphincter ani externus (an external ring of striated muscle surrounding the anus)

musculus sphincter ani internus (an internal ring of smooth muscle formed by circular fibers of the rectum)

Holonyms ("anal sphincter" is a part of...):

anus (the excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal)

 Context examples 

A ring of smooth muscle surrounding the anus on the inside of the external anal sphincter.

(Internal Anal Sphincter, NCI Thesaurus)

A ring of striated muscular fibers surrounding the anus on the outside of the internal anal sphincter.

(External Anal Sphincter, NCI Thesaurus)