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electromyograph

electromyograph

1 8.9
A machine doctors use to record electrical activity in muscles
  • noun
  • /ˌɛlɛktroʊˈmaɪəɡræf/
  • Specialized
: electromiógrafo
  • The researchers analyzed the results from the electromyograph to study the muscle response to stimulation.
  • EMG - electromyograph

Examples

  • The doctor used the electromyograph to measure the electrical activity in the patient's muscles during rehabilitation.

  • Often, the training begins with the electromyograph (EMG), and then switches to the EEG for greater effectiveness.

    Academic text (1990)
  • EMG - the electromyograph provides a continuous record of the intrinsic electrical activity associated with muscle contraction and kinesthesis.

    Academic text (1995)
  • During the experiment, the electromyograph displayed real-time data on how the muscles responded to different exercises.

Surface Forms

Morphology

electromyograph = myograph (opaque) = electro + myo + graph

The word adds a technical electro- prefix to a specialized base, but an average B1 learner would not readily infer the full medical meaning.

Etymology

Electromyograph comes from the parts electro- ('electric'), myo- ('muscle') and -graph ('to write' or 'record'), the same -graph you see in photograph. So an electromyograph is literally a machine that 'writes' or records the electrical signals from muscles, which is why doctors use it to measure muscle activity.