In , Parsons analyzed the hyoid bone from adult cadavers from male adults 53 , female adults 28 , and children His results showed an average height of 1. In , a group of Japanese researchers analyzed hyoid bones males, females using three-dimensional computed tomography CT imaging. Their data closely matched that of the study showing a mean height of 9.
However, the exact morphology of the hyoid bone in these cases was not reported. Finally, there are reported cases of ossification of the muscles that attach to the hyoid bone, e.
A review of the literature yielded a single case report on traumatic myositis ossificans in the superior belly of the omohyoid. In this case, the ossification was unilateral, palpable on physical examination, and clearly visible on radiographs [ 8 ].
Anatomical variations such as the one described herein, can result in wrong level surgery as the normally positioned and sized hyoid bone is used by surgeons to estimate the C3 vertebral level [ 9 - 12 ]. Furthermore, as the anterior neck is often palpated during physical examination, bony variants such as the one described here could lead to misdiagnosis or at least, unnecessary testing. The hyoid bone has both many unique anatomical features and clinical relevance in forensic pathology.
Therefore, reports of hyoid bone variations are important to anatomists and clinicians alike. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein. All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes. Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional.
Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to content published within Cureus. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Consent was obtained by all participants in this study. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U.
Journal List Cureus v. Published online Sep Shane Tubbs 4. Marios Loukas 3 Anatomy, St. George's University, St. Shane Tubbs. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. George's, GRD. Corresponding author. Joe Iwanaga gro. Received Sep 10; Accepted Sep This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The hyoid bone is a small horseshoe-shaped bone located in the front of your neck. It sits between the chin and the thyroid cartilage and is instrumental in the function of swallowing and tongue movements. The little talked about hyoid bone is a unique part of the human skeleton for a number of reasons.
First, it's mobile. This means that other than its attachment site to the thyroid cartilage which is part of the larynx and discussed below it floats. You can even move your hyoid from side to side—for safety's sake, very gently—by lightly touching either end and then alternating an ever so slight pushing action.
This action is called palpating the hyoid bone. Second, it has an unusual shape that resembles a horseshoe. From breathing to eating, the hyoid bone plays a role in a number of key functions that keep you alive. The hyoid is situated at the front, or anterior, part of the neck between the jaw bone and the thyroid cartilage, and is firmly secured to the thyroid cartilage by ligaments. It resides at the level of the third cervical vertebra, attaching indirectly, by means of tendons to muscles of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the anterior neck.
Although it is small, the hyoid bone is only rarely fractured. This is due to its location, which generally protects the bone from all but direct trauma. The hyoid bone provides a place of attachment for several anterior front neck muscles. The muscles that attach onto the hyoid bone include, but are not limited to, the:. These and other anterior neck muscles play a role in swallowing and may be affected in cases of neck injuries or misalignment.
The hyoid bone is located above the Adam's apple in men and below the tonsils and the epiglottis. While not technically a part of the larynx, at the top, the two structures are very close. The hyoid provides an attachment site for muscles that control movements of the larynx. Since the hyoid functions as an attachment point for the larynx, it's involved in any function that the larynx is involved in. The larynx is the area above your windpipe, aka trachea, that helps protect you from choking on foreign objects.
Perhaps the most well-known example of this is when food "goes down the wrong pipe. The larynx does its primary job of protecting you from choking by quickly closing off the opening to the trachea when a foreign object tries to enter. Remember, the windpipe is built for air, not things. Another thing the larynx does is produce sound; singers and speakers often refer to the larynx as the voice box. The larynx is also responsible for coughing, which is part of the choking protection mechanism function mentioned above.
The larynx has a few other purposes, as well, including playing a role in ventilation and functioning as a sensory organ. A second function of the hyoid bone is to provide a foundation or base from which the tongue can move. If you have received this message in error for example, you have purchased a new subscription or activated a trial , please log out and log back in to start a new session and receive access. Subscribe Now.
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