SPHINCTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sphincter mean? 

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

1. a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPHINCTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

anatomical sphincter; sphincter; sphincter muscle

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

muscle; musculus (one of the contractile organs of the body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sphincter"):

physiological sphincter (a sphincter that is not recognizable at autopsy because its resting arrangement cannot be distinguished from adjacent tissue)

anal sphincter; musculus sphincter ani; sphincter ani (the sphincter muscle of the anus)

musculus sphincter urethrae; urethral sphincter (a striated sphincter muscle that constricts the urethra)

bladder sphincter; musculus sphincter vesicae (the sphincter muscle of the urinary bladder; made up of a thickened muscular layer of bladder around the urethral opening)

musculus sphincter ductus choledochi (the smooth muscle sphincter of the common bile duct)

musculus sphincter ductus pancreatici (the smooth muscle sphincter of the main pancreatic duct)

musculus sphincter pupillae; pupillary sphincter (a ring of smooth muscle surrounding the iris)

musculus sphincter pylori; pyloric sphincter; pyloric valve (the sphincter muscle of the pylorus that separates the stomach from the duodenum)

 Context examples 

Any sphincter in the gastrointestinal tract.

(Gastrointestinal Sphincter, NCI Thesaurus)

It is chronic in nature and usually caused by incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, and may result in injury to the esophageal mucosal.

(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

It is usually caused by incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter.

(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

Stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors causes vasoconstriction of the radial smooth muscle of the iris, arteries, arterioles, veins, urinary bladder, and the sphincter of the gastrointestinal tract.

(l-Norepinephrine, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent may also increase the resting tone of the lower esophagus sphincter (LES), preventing acid reflux.

(Metoclopramide Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Metoclopramide may also strengthen the lower esophagus sphincter, thereby preventing acid reflux.

(Metoclopramide, NCI Thesaurus)

A finding indicating the lack of adequate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter resulting in difficulty swallowing food.

(Esophageal Achalasia, NCI Thesaurus)

It involves the wrapping of the fundus of the stomach around the lower esophagus to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter.

(Fundoplication, NCI Thesaurus)

Furthermore, carboprost's action on vascular smooth muscle and gastrointestinal tract sphincters leads to raised blood pressure and induces vomiting or diarrhea, respectively.

(Carboprost, NCI Thesaurus)

Administered as an ophthalmic solution, this drug stimulates the cholinoceptors in the sphincter muscle of the iris, causing the pupil to constrict.

(Acetylcholine Chloride, NCI Thesaurus)