myo-

1. a combining form meaning “muscle,” used in the formation of compound words:

   myology.

myo-

combining_form

1. muscle

   myocardium

Word History and Origins

Origin of myo-¹

Combining form representing Greek mŷs mouse, muscle

Word History and Origins

Origin of myo-¹

from Greek mus muscle

Example Sentences

It was necessary to appoint a man to carry on the duties of the Myo-k.

From Project Gutenberg

Contractile or myo-epithelial cells, with the cell prolonged at the base into a contractile muscle-fibre (fig. 6, B).

From Project Gutenberg

Tha-yet-myo, not the city of mangoes, as might be supposed, but the city of slaughter.

From Project Gutenberg

At Allan-myo there was a decent little house, close to the river-bank.

From Project Gutenberg

Such cells, made up of epithelial and muscular components, are known as epithelio-muscular or myo-epithelial cells.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use myo-

What does myo- mean?

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.

Examples of myo- 

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.

Break it down!

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