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The muscular outer layer of the uterus.

A tumor of muscle. Myoma can refer specifically to a benign tumor of uterine muscle, also called a leiomyoma or a fibroid.

A muscle cell. From myo-, muscle + -cyte, cell = muscle cell. “Remaining young at heart is a desirable but elusive goal. Unbeknown to us, however, myocyte regeneration may accomplish just that.” (Nature 415, 240, 2003)

A condition of abnormal contraction of muscles or portions of muscles.

Inflammation of the myocardium, the heart muscle. Myocarditis can be caused by a number of different conditions. The most common cause is infection of the heart muscle by a virus. The virus causes the initial heart muscle inflammation. After the initial viral infection subsides, the body’s immune system continues to inflict inflammatory damage on the heart muscles, prolonging the myocarditis, a…

A heart attack. Abbreviated MI. The term “myocardial infarction” focuses on the myocardium (the heart muscle) and the changes that occur in it due to the sudden deprivation of circulating blood. The main change is necrosis (death) of myocardial tissue. The word “infarction” comes from the Latin “infarcire” meaning “to plug up or cram.” It refers to the clogging…

A prefix denoting a relationship to muscle. Myo- enters into many words and terms in medicine including cardiomyopathy, dermatomyositis, electromyography, leiomyoma, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, myocardium, myoclonic, myocyte, myopathy, myoglobin, myometrium, myotonia, myotonic dystrophy, and polymyositis.

A base excision repair gene responsible for an hereditary colon cancer syndrome. MYH is located on the short (p) arm of chromosome 1 in region 1p34.3-p32.1. MYH encodes an enzyme that removes the base adenine from mispairs (with 8-oxoguanine) that arise during the replication of oxidized DNA. MYH is also known as MUTYH. A substantial proportion of people with multiple polyps…

An enzyme in leukocytes (white blood cells) that is linked to inflammation and cardiovascular disease. An elevated blood level of the enzyme predicts the early risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack). Abbreviated MPO.

Spontaneous scarring (fibrosis) of the bone marrow that disrupts the normal production of blood cells, leading to severe anemia and enlargement of the spleen and liver. Myelofibrosis usually begins slowly and worsens over time. It can be associated with a variety of diseases, primarily myeloproliferative (preleukemic) disorders. Also known as agnogenic myeloid metaplasia.