Which combining form denotes the muscle tissue itself in terms used in anatomy?

• A. Muc/o
• B. Kinesi/o
• C. Stomat/o
• D. Mening/o

Answer: (A)

Muscle tissue is denoted by combining forms that mean muscle or flesh, primarily my/o- and sarc/o- (with muscul/o also used in some terms). These forms appear in words like myopathy or sarc/o- roots, which specifically reference muscle.

From the options given, muc/o means mucous membrane (the lining of passages), not muscle tissue. Kinesi/o relates to movement, which describes function rather than tissue. Stomat/o refers to the mouth, and mening/o to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, none of the listed forms denote muscle tissue itself. The correct muscle-denoting forms are my/o- (or muscul/o/sarc/o depending on context), not muc/o.