top of page

Pylorus

Etymology:

Gr. pulōrós: “gatekeeper”

Definition:

1) In vertebrates, including humans, a zone at the lower end of the stomach that leads to and opens into (like a gate) the duodenum (i.e. anthropomorphized, the pylorus is a gatekeeper of the duodenum)


2) A muscular or myovascular structure that controls the opening of an orifice or lumen of an organ (This more accurately describes the pyloric sphincter).

bottom of page