The prefix Glosso- refers to which structure?

Master the Dean Vaughn Medical Terminology Test. Engage with flashcards and quizzes, detailed explanations provided. Enhance your medical vocabulary for exam success.

Multiple Choice

The prefix Glosso- refers to which structure?

Explanation:
Glosso- denotes the tongue. It comes from the Greek glōssa meaning tongue, and appears in terms like glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) and glossopharyngeal nerve (a nerve that serves the tongue and throat). It does not refer to the mouth, cheek, or jaw—that would be expressed with stomato- or oro- for mouth, bucco- for cheek, and gnatho- or mandibulo- for jaw. So the structure indicated by glosso- is the tongue.

Glosso- denotes the tongue. It comes from the Greek glōssa meaning tongue, and appears in terms like glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) and glossopharyngeal nerve (a nerve that serves the tongue and throat). It does not refer to the mouth, cheek, or jaw—that would be expressed with stomato- or oro- for mouth, bucco- for cheek, and gnatho- or mandibulo- for jaw. So the structure indicated by glosso- is the tongue.

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