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constriction

 
Dictionary: con·stric·tion   (kən-strĭk'shən) pronunciation
n.
    1. The act or process of constricting.
    2. The condition or result of being constricted.
    3. Something that constricts.
  1. A feeling of tightness or pressure: Fear caused a sudden constriction in my chest.
  2. A constricted or narrow part.

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Thesaurus: constriction
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noun

  1. A becoming narrow or narrower: Pathology stricture. See wide/narrow.
  2. A compressing of something: compression, squeeze. See tighten/loosen.

Antonyms: constriction
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n

Definition: blockage
Antonyms: opening


Dental Dictionary: constriction
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n

An abnormal closing or reduction in the size of an opening or passage of the body.

Veterinary Dictionary: constriction
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A narrowing or compression of a part; a stricture.

Word Tutor: constriction
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: A compression or making smaller by squeezing.

pronunciation The constriction of the cast made it difficult for Ethan to move his arm.

Wikipedia: Constriction
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A Carpet snake (Morelia spilota variegata) eating a chicken.

Snakes

Constriction is a method used by various snake species to kill their prey. Although some species of venomous and mildly-venomous snakes do use constriction to subdue their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom[1]. The snake initially strikes at its prey and holds on, pulling the prey into its coils or, in the case of very large prey, pulling itself onto the prey. The snake will then wrap one or two coils around the prey.

Contrary to myth, the snake does not crush the prey, or even break its bones. Traditionally, it has been thought that snakes hold tightly enough to prevent the prey from drawing air into its lungs, resulting in death from asphyxia. However, some prey items seem to die faster than would be possible through asphyxia, so it has also been suggested that the pressure of constriction causes a rise in the pressure in the prey's body cavity greater than the heart can counter, resulting in immediate cardiac arrest[2]. This new hypothesis has yet to be confirmed, but data indicates that snakes can exert enough pressure for this mechanism to be plausible[3]. Research into this topic is ongoing. It has been revealed that the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) has a constriction strength of 6 kg/cm2, which effectively means a total strength of 4000kg [4].

Certain groups of snakes have characteristic patterns of constriction, including the number of coils they use and the orientation of the coils[5].


Diamond Python constricting a Common Ringtail Possum, near Dungog, New South Wales.

Other meanings

Constriction, the opposite of dilation or dilatation, also refers to vasoconstriction, the narrowing of blood vessels caused by vascular smooth muscle contractions.

Constriction can also refer to the act of binding a victim with rope, either as a method of torture or sexual bondage.

References

  1. ^ http://www.jstor.org/stable/1445266
  2. ^ Hardy, David L. (1994). A re-evaluation of suffocation as the cause of death during constriction by snakes. Herpetological Review 229: 45-47.
  3. ^ Moon, 2000. The mechanics and muscular control of constriction in gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) and a king snake (Lampropeltis getula). Journal of Zoology 252 : 83-98. http://www.ucs.ull.edu/~brm2286/Moon_2000_constriction.pdf
  4. ^ http://ngccommunity.nationalgeographic.com/ngcblogs/explorer/2006/01/super-snake.html
  5. ^ http://www.jstor.org/stable/1443922

Translations: Constriction
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - sammensnøring, sammentrækning, indsnævring

Nederlands (Dutch)
vernauwing, beklemming, benauwdheid

Français (French)
n. - resserrement, rétrécissement, (Méd) constriction

Deutsch (German)
n. - Verengung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σύσφιγξη, περιστολή, συστολή

Italiano (Italian)
oppressione, restringimento, stenosi, contrazione, strozzatura

Português (Portuguese)
n. - constrição (f), contração (f)

Русский (Russian)
сжатие, стеснение, сужение

Español (Spanish)
n. - estrangulamiento, estenosis, estrechamiento

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - sammandragning, insnörning, förträngning

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
压缩, 束紧, 紧压的感觉, 压缩物

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 壓縮, 束緊, 緊壓的感覺, 壓縮物

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 압축 , 압축된 부분, 협착

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 締め付け, 圧縮, 締め付けられる感じ, 圧迫感, 締め付けるもの

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) ضيق, اختناق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תעוקה, כיווץ‬


 
 
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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Answers Corporation Antonyms. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
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