constrictors
Snakes that squeeze
Constrictors are snakes that kill prey by coiling around it and squeezing until it suffocates—pythons, boas, and anacondas are the most familiar.
The term extends to any muscle that tightens or narrows a passage: the constrictor muscles of the throat control swallowing.
Anything that squeezes or restricts might be called a constrictor: tight shoes acting as constrictors on swollen feet.
Squeezing serpents or wraps
- pythonsNon-venomous squeezing snakes
- anacondasHuge constricting water serpents
- coilsConnected loops of material
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
prey · suffocation · nonvenomous · swallowing · scales · reptiles · ambush · rodents
Ring-shaped closure muscles
- musclesContractile body tissue
- vesselsCarriers or containers
- arteriesTubes carrying oxygenated blood
- pupilsStudents or eye openings
pharyngeal · bronchial · esophageal · smooth muscle · contraction · narrowing · tightening · compression
Devices constricting blood flow
- bandagesStrips covering wounds
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- garmentsArticles of clothing
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
circulation · blood pressure cuff · binding · corsets · waistbands · elastic bands · orthopedic · stockings
boas
Squeezing serpents or wraps
- pythonsNon-venomous squeezing snakes
- anacondasHuge constricting water serpents
- coilsConnected loops of material
squeeze · prey · suffocation · nonvenomous · swallowing · scales · reptiles · ambush · rodents · tropical
sphincters
Ring-shaped closure muscles
pupils · pharyngeal · bronchial · esophageal · smooth muscle · contraction · narrowing · tightening · compression · blood flow
tourniquets
Devices constricting blood flow
- bandagesStrips covering wounds
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- garmentsArticles of clothing
swelling · circulation · blood pressure cuff · binding · corsets · waistbands · elastic bands · orthopedic · stockings · braces
constrictorsvenomous snakes
Reptiles with toxic bites
vipers · cobras · mambas · pit vipers · rattlesnakes
constrictorsdilators
Instruments that expand openings
expanders · wideners · openers · relaxers · stretchers
constrictorsdilators
Instruments that expand openings
vasodilators · bronchodilators · muscle relaxants · relaxants
- boa constrictorSnake that crushes prey