noun
- ring-shaped muscles that can contract to close or relax to open a body passage or opening
Usage: medical; anatomy
Examples
- The esophageal sphincters control the passage of food into and out of the stomach.
- Damage to certain sphincters can cause digestive problems.
- The doctor explained how sphincters function in the digestive system.
- Sphincters are found throughout the human body at various openings.
- The cardiac sphincter prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.
- Medical students learn about the different types of sphincters in anatomy class.