neuromuscular

American  

[noor-oh-muhs-kyuh-ler, nyoor-] / ˌnʊər oʊˈmʌs kjə lər, ˌnjʊər- /

adjective

1. pertaining to or affecting both nerves and muscles.

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neuromuscular British  

/ ˌnjʊərəʊˈmʌskjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting nerves and muscles

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Etymology

Origin of neuromuscular

First recorded in 1875–80; neuro- + muscular

Explanation

In medicine, if something affects both nerves and muscles, it's described as neuromuscular. Conditions like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis are neuromuscular diseases. Neuromuscular combines the scientific prefix neuro-, from a Greek root meaning "nerve," with muscular, which derives from the Latin musculus, "a muscle." The term is used for the physical connection between the nervous and muscular systems, like the neuromuscular junctions throughout the body that allow you to move your muscles, as well as ailments affecting both.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neuromuscular

News that drug candidate del-desiran missed the target of a late-stage study in rare neuromuscular disorder known as myotonic dystrophy type 1 came shortly after cardiovascular drug pelacarsen failed another trial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

“You’re retraining the neuromuscular system,” Burbank says, adding that it could take three to six months to notice concrete improvement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

The firm helped build, for example, a tool that screens for a rare neuromuscular disorder called myasthenia gravis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

"Also, prolonged vibration changes the reactivity of the neuromuscular spindles and alters the signal sent to the brain."

From Science Daily ● Jan. 8, 2026

But there’s another capacity of the neuromuscular system, which is pain.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich