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Sphinx

In Greek myth, the Sphinx was a creature (woman’s head, lion’s body) who “strangled” or killed those who couldn’t answer her riddle. The Greek word Sphíngx is thought to come from the Greek verb sphíngō (σφίγγω), meaning “to bind tight” or “to squeeze.”

Sphincter

The word sphincter comes from the Greek sphinktēr, meaning “a band or muscle that binds tight.” In anatomy, a sphincter is a circular muscle that constricts or closes an opening (like the anal or pyloric sphincter).

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The Connection

Both words come from the same Greek root:
sphíngō = to squeeze, bind, or tighten.

• The Sphinx: associated with “strangling” or tightening.
• The sphincter: literally a “tightening” muscle.

So the link is etymological — they share the same root meaning “to squeeze.”