Understanding the combining forms related to the muscular system is essential for grasping medical terminology and anatomy. The term myoso directly refers to muscle, serving as a foundational root in muscle-related words. When describing smooth muscles, the combining form liomyo is used, highlighting the non-striated, involuntary muscle type found in organs and blood vessels. The term fascio pertains to fibrous bands within muscles, known as fascia, which provide structural support and separate muscle groups. For tendons, which connect muscles to bones, the combining forms teno, tendo, and tendino are commonly used, all derived from the word tendon itself. Lastly, brachio or brachi relates to the arm, often appearing in terms describing arm muscles or structures. Recognizing these combining forms enhances comprehension of muscular anatomy and aids in decoding complex medical terms.
- Ch.1 Introduction to Medical Terminology1h 17m
- Ch.2 Body Structure51m
- Ch.3 Integumentary System54m
- Ch.4 Skeletal System1h 13m
- Ch.5 Muscular System50m
- Ch.6 Nervous System1h 9m
- Ch.7 Special Senses: Eyes43m
- Ch.8 Special Senses: Ears24m
- Ch.9 Cardiovascular System53m
- Ch.10 Blood, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems50m
- Ch.11 Endocrine System38m
- Ch.12 Respiratory System56m
- Ch.13 Digestive System50m
- Ch.14 Urinary System33m
- Ch.15 Female Reproductive System42m
- Ch.16 Male Reproductive System32m
Muscular System: Word Building: Videos & Practice Problems
Understanding muscular system terminology is essential for grasping muscle structure and function. Combining forms like myoso (muscle), liomyo (smooth muscle), fascio (fibrous bands), and teno (tendon) describe muscle anatomy. Action-related forms such as kinesio (movement), taxo (coordination), and tono (muscle tone) explain muscle states. Suffixes like -plasia (growth), -paresis (weakness), and -ptosis (drooping) relate to muscular conditions. These terms enhance comprehension of muscular health, disorders, and anatomy within the musculoskeletal system.
Structures of Muscular System Concept 1
Structures of Muscular System Concept 1 Video Summary

Structures of Muscular System Example 1
Structures of Muscular System Example 1 Video Summary
Understanding medical terminology often involves recognizing specific suffixes that describe surgical procedures. For instance, the suffix -tomy refers to a surgical incision, which means making a cut into tissue but not necessarily repairing it. In contrast, -plasty denotes surgical repair or reconstruction, indicating the reshaping or mending of a structure. The term lysis means loosening or breaking down tissue, which does not imply repair. Lastly, -ectomy signifies the surgical removal of a body part.
When considering the surgical repair of a fibrous membrane, known as fascia, the correct term combines the root for fascia with the suffix for repair. Since fascia refers to a fibrous connective tissue membrane, and -plasty means surgical repair, the appropriate term is fascioplasty. This term precisely describes the surgical reconstruction or repair of the fibrous membrane.
In summary, recognizing the meanings of surgical suffixes is essential for accurately identifying medical procedures. Surgical incision is -tomy, surgical removal is -ectomy, loosening is -lysis, and surgical repair or reconstruction is -plasty. Therefore, the surgical repair of a fibrous membrane is termed fascioplasty.
Which of the following terms best describes inflammation of nerves in the arm?
Brachioleiomyitis
Fasciitis
Brachial neuritis
Neurotendinitis
Actions and States Concept 2
Actions and States Concept 2 Video Summary
Understanding the combining forms related to the muscular system enhances comprehension of muscle actions and states. The term kinesio refers to motion or movement, as seen in kinesiology, the study of body movement. Taxo relates to reaction to a stimulus or coordination, highlighting how muscles respond and coordinate actions, much like coordinating a ride in a taxi. The combining form versio means to turn, derived from the idea of reversing or turning back, which is essential in describing rotational muscle movements.
Tracto means to draw or pull, reminiscent of a protractor used to measure angles, symbolizing the pulling action muscles perform. Metro signifies measurement, similar to a speedometer, which can be linked to measuring muscle performance or contraction speed. Tono pertains to muscle tone or tension, a critical concept in understanding muscle readiness and firmness.
The form torti or torso means to twist, describing the twisting actions muscles can perform. Trofo relates to development or nourishment, emphasizing the growth and sustenance of muscle tissue, much like a trophy symbolizes achievement and growth. Lastly, iso means equal, as in an isosceles triangle where sides or angles are equal, reflecting equal muscle tension or balanced muscle activity.
These combining forms are fundamental in medical terminology and anatomy, providing a framework to describe muscle functions, reactions, and conditions accurately. Recognizing these roots aids in decoding complex terms related to muscular actions and states, enhancing both learning and practical application in health sciences.
Actions and States Example 2
Actions and States Example 2 Video Summary
Miguel, a 22-year-old student, experiences persistent muscle tightness and pain in his neck due to abnormal muscle tone. The term "dys-" is a prefix meaning bad, difficult, or abnormal, which helps identify the condition. Among the options, dystonia best explains Miguel's symptoms. This condition involves abnormal muscle tone or tension, causing muscles to remain contracted and preventing relaxation.
Understanding the terminology clarifies why other options are less suitable. Ataxia refers to a lack of coordination or reaction, not muscle tension. Dyskinesia involves difficulty with movement or motion, which differs from sustained muscle tightness. Dystrophy relates to problems with development or nourishment of muscles, not their tone.
Since "tonia" relates to muscle tone or tension, and Miguel's muscles stay tight without relaxing, dystonia accurately describes his abnormal muscle tone condition. This highlights the importance of recognizing prefixes and suffixes in medical terminology to diagnose neuromuscular disorders effectively.
Hypertrophy refers to
Excessive muscle strength.
Decrease in muscle growth.
Lack of muscle movement.
Excessive tissue or organ development.
Suffixes Concept 3
Suffixes Concept 3 Video Summary
Understanding suffixes related to the muscular system is essential for grasping medical terminology and diagnosing conditions effectively. The suffix -opsia means "view of," as seen in terms like biopsy, which involves examining tissue samples. The suffix -plasia refers to the formation or growth of cells or tissues. When combined with the prefix a-, meaning "without" or "lack of," it forms aplasia, indicating the absence of growth or development, such as in aplasia of the lung where normal tissue fails to develop.
-Paresis denotes weakness, often used to describe partial paralysis or muscle weakness. A helpful mnemonic is associating "paresis" with "Paris" to remember weakness. Another important suffix is -ptosis, which means drooping or sagging, commonly observed in conditions like facial drooping after a stroke. This term is frequently encountered in physical therapy contexts when assessing muscle control and function.
Lastly, the suffix -cele relates to a hernia or swelling caused by the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening. Visualizing a large seal can help recall this term, emphasizing the concept of swelling or bulging. These suffixes are fundamental in describing muscular system disorders, aiding in accurate communication and understanding of medical conditions.
Suffixes Example 3
Suffixes Example 3 Video Summary
After a stroke, common symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and loss of balance on one side of the body are often described by the medical term hemiparesis. This term combines the prefix hemi-, meaning "half" or "one side," with the suffix -paresis, which denotes weakness. In medical terminology, paresis specifically refers to partial loss of voluntary movement or muscle strength. While the prefix semi- can also mean "half," it is generally used in everyday language rather than in clinical contexts. Therefore, hemiparesis accurately describes the condition of muscle weakness affecting one side of the body, commonly observed after neurological events like strokes.
Select the most likely term describing a protrusion of muscle through a tear in a fascia.
Myoscele
Fasciocele
Myocele
Fasciorrhexis
Condition in which a kidney is displayed downwards (“droops”) when a person stands up.
nephrolithiasis
nephroptosis
nephritis
nephromegaly
Here’s what students ask on this topic:
In the muscular system, several combining forms describe muscle structures. Myoso refers to muscle in general, helping us remember muscle-related terms. Liomyo specifically relates to smooth muscle, which is non-striated and found in organs. Fascio denotes fibrous bands or fascia that surround muscles, providing support. The terms teno, tendo, and tendino all relate to tendons, which connect muscles to bones. Lastly, brachio or brachi refers to the arm, useful in terms like brachialis muscle. Understanding these combining forms helps in decoding medical terminology related to muscle anatomy and function.
Combining forms such as kinesio and taxo describe muscle actions and states. Kinesio relates to movement or motion, as seen in kinesiology, the study of body movement. Taxo refers to coordination or reaction to stimuli, similar to how a taxi coordinates rides. Other forms include versio meaning to turn, tracto meaning to draw or pull, and tono which relates to muscle tone or tension. These terms help explain how muscles function dynamically, including movement, coordination, and maintaining muscle tension.
Several suffixes are important in muscular system terminology. -opsi means "view of," as in biopsy, which is viewing tissue samples. -plasia refers to formation or growth; for example, aplasia means lack of growth. -paresis indicates weakness, useful in terms like hemiparesis (weakness on one side). -ptosis means drooping, often seen in conditions where muscles or tissues sag. Lastly, -seal relates to hernia or swelling, indicating protrusion of tissue. These suffixes help describe various muscular conditions and abnormalities.
Mnemonic devices are effective tools for memorizing muscular system combining forms. For example, myoso can be remembered as "my muscles" to recall it means muscle. Liomyo is linked to "my smooth silk" to remember it refers to smooth muscle. Fascio is associated with "fashion head wrap" to recall fibrous bands. For tendons, teno, tendo, and tendino are linked to the Achilles tendon. Brachio is connected to "brachiosaurus" to remember it relates to the arm. These memory aids simplify learning complex terminology by associating terms with familiar concepts.
The combining form tono is significant because it relates to muscle tone or tension. Muscle tone refers to the continuous and passive partial contraction of muscles, which helps maintain posture and readiness for action. Understanding tono is important when studying muscle conditions that affect tension, such as hypotonia (reduced muscle tone) or hypertonia (increased muscle tone). This term helps explain how muscles maintain their firmness and respond to stimuli, which is crucial for movement and stability.