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Hyoid bone

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The hyoid bone (also known as the tongue-bone, lingual bone, Latin: os hyoideum) is a single "U" shaped bone situated in the anterior part of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. The hyoid bone is attached to the skull with the help of ligaments. It sometimes classified as a bone of the viscerocranium.

The main parts of the hyoid bone are:

  • Body
  • Lesser horn (2)
  • Greater horn (2)
Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Anterior view
Parts of hyoid bone (anterior view) by Anatomy.app
Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Lateral view
Parts of hyoid bone (lateral view) by Anatomy.app

The body of the hyoid is the anterior segment of the hyoid bone between the two pairs of horns. Two bony projections known as the greater horn and lesser horn extend from each side of the hyoid bone.

Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Anterior view
Parts of hyoid bone (anterior view) by Anatomy.app
Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Lateral view
Parts of hyoid bone (lateral view) by Anatomy.app
Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Posterior view
Parts of hyoid bone (posterior view) by Anatomy.app
Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Superior view
Parts of hyoid bone (superior view) by Anatomy.app
Head and neck, Skeletal system, Skull, Cranium, Viscerocranium, Bones, Hyoid bone, Parts, Lesser horn, Greater horn, Body, Inferior view
Parts of hyoid bone (inferior view) by Anatomy.app
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