Hyoid bone
Hyoid Bone
The Hyoid Bone (pronounced /ˈhaɪ.ɔɪd/), 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.
Etymology
The term "Hyoid" is derived from the Greek word 'hyoeides', meaning "shaped like the letter upsilon (υ)".
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. It is divided into three parts: a central body, and two lateral greater and lesser horns, also known as the cornua.
Body
The body of the hyoid bone is the central part of the hyoid bone.
Greater Cornua
The greater cornua project backward from the outer edges of the body. They are flattened from above downward and taper to their end.
Lesser Cornua
The lesser cornua are two small conical eminences, which project upward from the junctions of the body and greater cornua.
Function
The hyoid bone is responsible for holding up the tongue, which sits above it. It also holds up the larynx, which hangs down from it, thereby aiding in swallowing and vocalization.
Related Terms
- Larynx: The hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals; the voice box.
- Epiglottis: A flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing to cover the opening of the windpipe.
- Pharynx: The membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the esophagus.
- Thyroid Cartilage: The largest of the nine cartilages that make up the laryngeal skeleton, the cartilage structure in and around the trachea that contains the larynx.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hyoid bone
- Wikipedia's article - Hyoid bone
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