| Sphincter | |
|---|---|
| Identifiers | |
| TA98 | A04.0.00.028 |
| TA2 | 1992 |
| FMA | 75004 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Look up sphincter in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
A sphincter is a circular muscle that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and which relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning. Sphincters are found in many animals. There are over 60 types in the human body,[citation needed] some microscopically small, in particular the millions of precapillary sphincters.[1] Sphincters relax at death, often releasing fluids and faeces.[2]
- ^ Vander, Arthur; Sherman, James; Luciano, Dorothy (1994). Human Physiology: The Mechanism of Body Function (Sixth Edition, International ed.). McGraw Hill, Inc. pp. 437–440. ISBN 0-07-113761-0.
- ^ Emanuel, Linda L.; Ferris, Frank D.; von Gunten, Charles F.; Hauser, Joshua M.; Von Roenn, Jamie H. (February 11, 2010). "The Last Hours of Living: Practical Advice for Clinicians". Medscape.