Physiological Sphincter (Noun)
Meaning
A sphincter that is not recognizable at autopsy because its resting arrangement cannot be distinguished from adjacent tissue.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The gastroesophageal junction has a physiological sphincter that helps control the flow of food into the stomach but can be difficult to detect in a cadaver.
- A sphincter that functions through the resting tone of its musculature rather than by forming a distinct anatomical ring is often referred to as a physiological sphincter.
- This type of physiological sphincter is seen in organs such as the lower esophageal sphincter at the entrance of the stomach, providing a natural barrier against gastric contents moving upwards.
- Physiological sphincters play important roles in controlling the movement of substances through the body, but they do not have the distinct appearance of anatomical sphincters.
- Understanding how the physiological sphincter functions can be difficult to discern because its purpose relies on contractions rather than an identifiable structure consisting of clearly defined tissues that mark separation.