Definition

A chemical substance derived from a South American vine, used primarily as a muscle relaxant and known for its toxic properties.

Example

Tubocurarine is often used in medical settings to induce muscle relaxation during surgery.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of tubocurarine?

Yeah, it’s that muscle relaxant from curare, right?

Exactly! I read that it comes from a South American vine.

That's fascinating! I didn't know it had such a unique source.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tubocurarine is formed from "tubo-" (from the Spanish word "tubo", meaning tube) and "curare" (from the indigenous South American word for a plant extract used as a poison). The word refers to a compound derived from a tube-like plant extract used in traditional medicine and as a muscle relaxant.

Memory Tip

Think of 'tubo-' as relating to a 'tube' and 'curare' as a poison from plants. This helps you remember that tubocurarine is a substance derived from a plant extract used for its muscle-relaxing properties.

Visually Confused Words