Everything about the Hyoid Bone totally explained
The
hyoid bone (
Lingual Bone) is a
bone in the
neck, and is the only bone in the human skeleton not articulated to any other bone. It is supported by the
muscles of the neck and in turn supports the root of the
tongue.
The hyoid bone is shaped like a
horseshoe, and is suspended from the tips of the
styloid processes of the temporal bones by the
stylohyoid ligaments.
Segments
It consists of five segments:
Ossification
The hyoid is
ossified from
six centers: two for the body, and one for each
cornu. Ossification commences in the greater cornua toward the end of
fetal life, in the body shortly afterward, and in the lesser cornua during the first or second year after birth.
Muscle attachments
The following muscles attach to the hyoid:
superior
inferior
Function
Though the hyoid bone is present in many mammals, its descent in living creatures is unique to Homo sapiens, allowing for the production of a wide range of sounds that animals can't produce. It allows a wider range of tongue, pharyngeal and laryngeal movements by bracing these structures alongside each other in order to produce variation. As such, it was also present in virtually identical form in Neanderthal man. That suggests, along with other anthropological clues of communication, that the Neanderthal were capable of employing some form of spoken language.
Fracture
Due to its position, the hyoid bone isn't usually easy to fracture in most situations.
In cases of suspicious death, a fractured hyoid is a strong sign of strangulation.
Etymology
Its name is derived from the Greek word hyoeides meaning "shaped like the letter upsilon" (υ).
Additional images
Image:Illu larynx.jpg|Larynx
Image:Gray43.png|Head and neck of a human embryo eighteen weeks old, with Meckel’s cartilage and hyoid bar exposed.
Image:Gray380.png|Muscles of the pharynx and cheek.
Image:Gray385.png|Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.
Image:Gray513.png|The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.
Image:Larynx external en.svg|The ligaments of the larynx. Antero-lateral view.
Image:Gray953.png|Sagittal section of the larynx and upper part of the trachea.
Image:Gray954.png|Coronal section of larynx and upper part of trachea.
Image:Gray955.png|The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind.
Image:Gray994.png|Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx.
Image:Gray1019.png|Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side.
Image:Gray1174.png|The thyroid gland and its relations.
Image:Gray1195.png|Front view of neck.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Hyoid Bone'.
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