Myofibril is a basic rod-like unit of a muscle cell that contracts in coordinated fashion as part of a myofibrillar bundle. It comprises repeating sarcomeres, containing actin and myosin filaments, whose interactions produce contraction. Each myofibril runs along the muscle fiber, enabling efficient force generation essential to movement.
"Researchers examined the arrangement of myofibrils to understand muscle weakness."
"The sarcomere is the functional unit within a myofibril that shortens during contraction."
"Different muscle types have varying densities of myofibrils, affecting strength."
"In histology slides, the striated pattern reflects organized myofibrils and sarcomeres."
Myofibril derives from the Greek mys, meaning muscle, and the Latin fibra, meaning fiber. The term fuses myo- (muscle) with -fibril (a small fiber), reflecting its role as a small fiber within a muscle cell. The concept emerged in 19th-century anatomy as scientists described the highly organized, repeating units in muscle tissue responsible for contraction. Early histologists observed the striated appearance of skeletal muscle and attributed it to bundles of myofibrils aligned within muscle fibers. Over time, microscopy and staining techniques clarified that each myofibril contains sarcomeres—the fundamental contractile units—comprising actin and myosin filaments. The word entered common scientific usage as microanatomy advanced, particularly in studies of muscle physiology and pathology, where the density and organization of myofibrils influence muscle strength and disease progression. First known uses appear in anatomical texts around the late 19th to early 20th centuries, with precise definitions solidifying as the concepts of sarcomeres and myofilaments matured in the literature.
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Words that rhyme with "Myofibril"
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Break it into syllables: my-o-FI-bril. Stress on the third syllable: /ˌmaɪ.oʊˈfɪ.brɪl/. The first two phonemes are /m/ and /aɪ/ (like 'my'), then /oʊ/ (as in 'go'), followed by /fɪ/ (as in 'fit'), and end with /brɪl/. Imagine saying 'my-eye-OF-ih-bril' with emphasis on the 'fi' part. Audio references: Cambridge Dictionary and Forvo entries for 'myofibril' show this rhythm and vowel quality.
Two common errors: 1) stressing the wrong syllable—people sometimes put emphasis on the first syllable (MY-o-), but correct stress is on the 'fi' syllable (my-o-FI-bril). 2) blending vowels too aggressively, turning /oʊ/ into a quick /o/ or merging /br/ with the preceding vowel. Correction: enunciate /ˌmaɪ.oʊˈfɪ.brɪl/ with a clear /oʊ/ diphthong and a hard /br/ cluster, keeping the /ɪ/ before /br/ distinct.
US: /ˌmaɪ.oʊˈfɪ.brɪl/ with rhoticity and clear /oʊ/ and /ɪ/ sounds. UK: /ˌmaɪ.əʊˈfɪ.brɪl/ often uses a slightly more centralized /əʊ/ in rapid speech and may reduce the first vowel cluster, but keeps /ˈfɪ/ and /brɪl/ clear. AU: similar to US, sometimes with a more clipped /ɪ/ and slightly different vowel quality in /oʊ/. Overall differences are subtle; main issue is the first two vowels in fast speech.
Key challenges: a) the sequence /maɪ.oʊ/ blends a triphthong-like quality across syllables, which can be tricky when spoken quickly; b) the /fɪ.brɪl/ cluster requires precise articulation of /f/ followed by /ɪ/ and the /br/ onset, which can blur in rapid speech; c) maintaining stress on the third syllable in longer phrases. Practice slows this process and builds muscle memory for accurate articulation.
No, every letter contributes to pronunciation: M-y-o-f-i-b-r-i-l all have audible phonemes. The challenge lies in blending the vowels and consonants smoothly and maintaining correct stress. There isn’t a silent consonant or vowel in standard pronunciations; focus on the /oʊ/ diphthong and the /br/ cluster to keep it natural.
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