Hyoid bone

Hyoid Bone

The Hyoid bone is a horseshoe-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. It is the only bone in the human body that does not articulate with any other bone.

Structure

The hyoid bone provides attachment to the muscles of the floor of the mouth and the tongue above, the larynx below, and the epiglottis and pharynx behind.

Body

The body of the hyoid bone is the central part of the hyoid bone.

Greater Cornu

The greater cornu (or greater horns) project backward from the outer edges of the body. They are flattened from above downward and taper to their end.

Lesser Cornu

The lesser cornu (or lesser horns) are two small, conical eminences, which project from the upper and anterior part of the body of the hyoid bone.

Function

The hyoid bone is responsible for holding the tongue and serves as an attachment point for several muscles that help elevate the larynx during swallowing and speech.

Clinical Significance

The hyoid bone is often fractured in cases of strangulation and can therefore be a significant piece of evidence in forensic pathology.

See Also

• Anatomy
• Human Skeleton
• Larynx
• Tongue

External Links

• WikiMD Article on Hyoid Bone

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  Hyoid bone anatomy illustration

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  Hyoid bones at the Natural History Museum Vienna