'arteriomotor' is a modern medical formation combining Neo-Latin/Greek-derived prefix 'arterio-' (from Latin/Greek 'arteria', meaning 'artery') and Latin 'motor' (from 'movere', meaning 'to move'); together signifying 'that which moves or controls arteries'.

'arteriomotor' developed in medical/physiological usage by combining the element 'arterio-' (from Greek/Latin 'arteria' > English 'artery') with Latin-derived 'motor' (from 'movere' → 'motor'), following patterns of Neo-Latin compound formation used in 19th–20th century medical terminology.

Initially built as a descriptive compound meaning 'artery-mover' or 'relating to movement of arteries'; it has been specialized to mean functions or agents that cause or regulate arterial/arteriolar contraction (motor/vasomotor activity).