musculo-

1. a combining form representing muscle in compound words:

   musculoskeletal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of musculo-¹

< Latin mūscul ( us ) muscle + -o-

Example Sentences

Key track: Echoes of Kate Bush bubble up amid the synthy undercurrent of “Cada Músculo,” but Fratti’s stark lyricism steals the show: “Every muscle has a voice,” she repeats in Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times

“Si fallas en el agarre de la mano, toda la presión del agua pasa por tu tríceps”, dice el buzo británico Noah Williams, explicando cómo una vez se desgarró ese músculo.

From Los Angeles Times

Si hay lo que Jones llama un “eslabón débil” -un músculo que no es tan fuerte como los demás- la lesión se abrirá paso allí.

From Los Angeles Times

Se sometió a un examen de resonancia magnética el lunes en Denver antes de que el equipo viajara a Minnesota para el partido del martes, las imágenes mostraron una distensión de su músculo de la pantorrilla.

From Los Angeles Times

Lleva en su interior la forma de la curva de una ceja, el músculo grueso del corazón, el poder electroquímico de una neurona.

From New York Times

Words That Use musculo-

What does musculo- mean?

Musculo– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “muscle.” It is occasionally used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Musculo– comes from Latin mūsculus, meaning “muscle.” However, the literal meaning of mūsculus is “little mouse”; the term is a diminutive of mūs “mouse,” which is also the source of murine, which refers to a subfamily of rodents. To learn more, read our entry for murine.

What are variants of musculo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, musculo– becomes muscul-, as in muscular.

Examples of musculo-

One example of a medical term that uses musculo– is musculotropic, “of, affecting, acting upon, or attracted to muscular tissue.”

While musculo– means “muscle,” the –tropic portion of the word refers to “having an affinity for,” from Greek trópos, meaning “turn.” Musculotropic literally translates to “having an affinity for muscle.”

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

• musculoaponeurotic
• musculocutaneous
• musculomembranous
• musculophrenic vein
• musculoskeletal
• musculotubal canal

What are some other forms that musculo– may be commonly confused with?

• myel-
• myelo-
• muco-

Break it down!

The word skeletal means “of, relating to, or like a skeleton.” With this in mind, what is the musculoskeletal system?