Final answer:
In anatomy, "glosso" refers to the tongue and is the root for terms associated with tongue-related structures, particularly muscles such as the genioglossus, styloglossus, palatoglossus, and hyoglossus.
Step-by-step explanation:
In anatomy, the root word "glosso" is derived from the Greek word for tongue, "glossa", and refers to the tongue. This root is used to identify various tongue-related structures, particularly muscles, that are involved in tongue movements. For example, the genioglossus muscle, which allows the tongue to move downward and forward, originates on the mandible and its name is derived from "genio-" (chin) combined with "glossus" (tongue).
Other muscles include the styloglossus, which originates on the styloid process and moves the tongue upward and backward; the palatoglossus, which arises from the soft palate and elevates the back of the tongue; and the hyoglossus, which has its origin on the hyoid bone and is involved in depressing and flattening the tongue.