— sphincteral, sphincterial /sfingk tear"ee euhl/ , sphincteric /sfingk ter"ik/ , sphincterate /sfingk"teuhr it, -teuh rayt'/ , adj.
/sfingk"teuhr/ , n. Anat.
a circular band of voluntary or involuntary muscle that encircles an orifice of the body or one of its hollow organs.
[ 1570-80; sphinktér, equiv. to sphing-, base of sphíngein to hold tight + -ter suffix denoting agent ]