sphincter
sphincter — noun
- sphinctersingular
- sphinctersplural
1. a ring-shaped muscle inside the body that tightens to close a natural opening or
a ring-shaped muscle inside the body that tightens to close a natural opening or passage, controlling the flow of waste or fluids
The anal sphincter works without you having to think about keeping it closed.
collocation: works without effort
After a large meal, Lien felt a sphincter relax to let gas escape from her stomach.
Weak sphincter muscles can sometimes be strengthened through daily pelvic floor exercises.
The pyloric sphincter acts like a gate between the stomach and the small intestine.
Lakshmi's doctor told her that a damaged sphincter might require surgery to repair.
- valve
Valve is a general term for any structure that controls flow; sphincter specifically refers to a ring of muscle in the body.
文法句型
countable noun
用法筆記
Frequently used with an adjective naming the specific location or type, such as anal sphincter, cardiac sphincter, or pyloric sphincter.