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myofilament

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ˌmaɪəˈfɪləmənt/

KK: /maɪəˈfɪləmənt/

noun
Definition

A very small thread-like structure found in muscle cells, made of proteins called actin and myosin, which help muscles contract and relax.


Example

The myofilament plays a crucial role in muscle contraction.


Conversation
Sloth A
I just read about how myofilament structures work in muscles.
Sloth B
Oh really? I didn't know much about that before.
Sloth A
Yeah, they are essential for muscle contraction and movement, surprisingly complex!
Sloth B
That sounds fascinating! I should look into it more.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
filament
fiber
strand
Antonyms
bulk
mass
whole
Root Explanation

Myofilament is formed from "myo-" (from Greek "musculus", meaning muscle) and "filament" (from Latin "filamentum", meaning thread). The word refers to a thread-like structure within muscle cells that plays a crucial role in muscle contraction.

Memory Tip

Think of 'myo-' relating to 'muscle' and 'filament' meaning 'thread' — together, they describe the thread-like structures in muscles.

Visually Confused Words
monofilament
filament
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