myo-

Myo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “muscle.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Myo- comes from the Greek mŷs, meaning “muscle” and “mouse.” Mouse? Yep, discover why at our entry for muscle.

What are variants of myo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, myo- becomes my–, as in myalgia.

An example of a word you may have encountered that features myo- is myocardium, “the muscular substance of the heart.”

We know myo- means “muscle,” so the -cardium portion of the word? That’s right, -cardium refers to “heart,” from the Greek kardía. Myocardium literally translates to “heart muscle.”

What are some words that use the combining form myo-?

• myoatrophy
• myoblast
• myograph
• myo-inositol
• myology
• myoneural
• myosin

What are some other forms that myo- may be commonly confused with?

• myel-
• myelo-

Not every word that begins with the exact letters myo- or my- is necessarily using the combining forming myo- to denote “muscle,” e.g., myopic or myriad. Learn why myopic means “shortsighted” at our entry for the word.

Given that myo- means “muscle” -ology means “study,” then what is myology?