sphincter

Plural: sphincteres, sphincters

Noun

a ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening
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.

Examples

the iris sphincter in the eye
the sphincter of the bladder

Origin / Etymology

Etymology tree
Late Latin sphinctērlbor.
English sphincter
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”).

Synonyms

anatomical sphincter, sphincter muscle

Scrabble Score: 16

sphincter: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
sphincter: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
sphincter: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

sphincter: valid Words With Friends Word