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The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone situated at the root of the tongue, in the front of the neck, and between the lower jaw and the largest cartilage of the larynx, or voice box. It is the only floating bone in the human body, meaning it is not connected to any other bones but is instead held in place by muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. The hyoid bone serves as an attachment structure for the tongue and muscles in the floor of the oral cavity, and it plays a key role in tongue movement, swallowing, and breathing. There are eight hyoid muscles, four suprahyoid, and four infrahyoid muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | The hyoid bone is the only "floating" bone in the human body, connected to other structures by ligaments, muscles and cartilage. |
| Location | The hyoid bone is situated at the root of the tongue in the front of the neck and between the lower jaw and the largest cartilage of the larynx. |
| Functions | The hyoid bone serves as an attachment structure for the tongue and for muscles in the floor of the oral cavity. It also aids in tongue movement, swallowing, breathing and speech. |
| Conditions | Hyoid bone syndrome occurs when there is inflammation in the muscles and ligaments surrounding the bone. Other conditions include fractures, osteoradionecrosis and chondrosarcoma. |
| Muscles | The suprahyoid muscles include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid and stylohyoid. |
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What You'll Learn
- The hyoid bone is the only floating bone in the human body
- Hyoid muscles aid in tongue movement, swallowing and breathing
- Suprahyoid muscles: four muscles that elevate the hyoid bone
- Infrahyoid muscles: four muscles that depress the hyoid bone
- Hyoid bone conditions are rare but can cause hoarseness, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing
The hyoid bone is the only floating bone in the human body
The hyoid bone is a fascinating structure that is unique in the human body. It is the only "floating" bone, meaning it is not connected to any other bones. Instead, it is held in place by muscles, ligaments, and cartilage, sitting at the front of the neck below the lower jaw and above the thyroid cartilage. This small bone is well-protected and tucked away near the junction of the chin and neck, making fractures rare. However, its role is significant, contributing to essential functions such as tongue movement, swallowing, and breathing.
The hyoid bone serves as an attachment point for various muscles and ligaments, including three main ligaments and several neck muscles. Its name, derived from the Greek "hyoeides," reflects its shape, resembling the letter upsilon (υ). The bone consists of a central part called the body and two pairs of horns, the greater and lesser horns. The greater horns project backward from the outer borders of the body, providing a rough surface for muscular attachment. The largest muscles attaching here are the hyoglossus and the middle pharyngeal constrictor.
The hyoid bone's function extends beyond providing attachment. It plays a crucial role in swallowing, with its movement coordinated with the tongue and larynx during this process. Additionally, it is important for speech and breathing, contributing to voice production and keeping the upper airway open during sleep. This bone's evolution in mammals is thought to be linked to the development of lactation, enabling newborns to suckle milk.
The hyoid bone is not unique to humans, as it is present in many mammals and even some non-mammalian vertebrates. Its discovery in Neanderthal remains in Israel led to the hypothesis that Neanderthals possessed human-like speech capabilities. However, this interpretation has been disputed, highlighting the ongoing research and intrigue surrounding this unique floating bone.
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Hyoid muscles aid in tongue movement, swallowing and breathing
The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone situated at the root of the tongue, in the front of the neck, and between the lower jaw and the largest cartilage of the larynx, or voice box. It is the only "floating" bone in the human body, meaning it is not connected to any other bone but is instead held in place by muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. The hyoid bone is important for several physiological functions, including tongue movement, swallowing, and breathing.
The hyoid bone serves as an attachment structure for the tongue and for muscles in the floor of the oral cavity. The hyoid bone has certain muscles of the tongue attached to it, including the hyoglossus muscles, which originate on each side of the bone and insert into the sides of the tongue. These muscles contract to depress the tongue and widen the oral cavity. The geniohyoid muscles, located deep to the mylohyoid muscle on either side of the midline of the neck, also attach to the hyoid bone and act to depress the mandible and elevate the hyoid bone.
The hyoid bone is also important for swallowing. During swallowing, the hyoid bone, tongue, and larynx all move upward rapidly. The suprahyoid muscles, which include the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles, contribute to swallowing by elevating the hyoid bone and widening the oesophagus. The infrahyoid muscles, which include the omohyoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles, act to depress the hyoid bone and play a role in the position of the larynx during swallowing.
In addition to its role in tongue movement and swallowing, the hyoid bone is also involved in breathing. It is thought to play a key role in keeping the upper airway open during sleep, and as such, is important in the development and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The hyoid bone's attachment to the muscles of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and larynx likely contribute to its role in breathing.
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Suprahyoid muscles: four muscles that elevate the hyoid bone
The hyoid bone is the only "floating" bone in the human body, meaning it is not connected to any other bones. Instead, it is held in place by muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. The bone is located in the front of the neck, below the lower jaw and above the thyroid cartilage.
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located above the hyoid bone in the neck. They are the digastric, stylohyoid, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles. These muscles are responsible for positioning the hyoid bone and coordinating the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization. They are all pharyngeal muscles, except for the geniohyoid muscle.
The digastric muscle is comprised of two muscular bellies, which are connected by a tendon. It originates from the digastric fossa of the mandible and the mastoid process of the temporal bone, inserting onto the body of the hyoid bone. When the hyoid bone is fixed, the digastric assists in the extreme opening of the mouth, such as yawning or taking a large bite.
The mylohyoid muscle runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon, where the medial fibers unite and insert on the body of the hyoid bone. It elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth when the mandibular attachment is fixed.
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine at the internal surface of the mandible, with its fibers radiating to the body of the hyoid bone. This muscle pulls the hyoid bone anterosuperiorly, shortening the floor of the mouth and widening the pharynx during swallowing.
The stylohyoid muscle is a thin muscular strip located above the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. It arises from the styloid process of the temporal bone and attaches to the lateral aspect of the hyoid bone. The primary function of this muscle is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it posteriorly, resulting in the retraction and lengthening of the floor of the mouth. It also helps to keep the pharynx open during inspiration.
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Infrahyoid muscles: four muscles that depress the hyoid bone
The hyoid bone is a small, U-shaped bone tucked away under the lower jaw in the anterior (frontal) part of the neck. It is the only "floating" bone in the human body, meaning it is not connected to any other bone and is instead held in place by ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. The hyoid bone plays a key role in speaking, swallowing, tongue movement, and breathing.
The infrahyoid muscles are a group of four pairs of muscles that lie beneath the hyoid bone. They are the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid muscles. These muscles act to depress the hyoid bone and play an important role in the position of the larynx and swallowing. The infrahyoid muscles lie in two planes: the superficial plane (omohyoid and sternohyoid muscles) and the deep plane (sternothyroid and thyrohyoid muscles).
The omohyoid muscle is divided into a superior and inferior belly, which are connected by a muscular tendon. The inferior belly originates at the superior border of the scapula, ascends craniomedially, and merges into an intermediate tendon at the height of the lateral cervical region. The superior belly then originates from the intermediate tendon and attaches to the body of the hyoid bone. The omohyoid is innervated by the ansa cervicalis (C1-C3), which arises from the cervical plexus. It functions to depress and draw the hyoid bone posteriorly.
The sternohyoid muscle originates from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the posterior surface of the medial end of the clavicle, and it inserts on the inferior border of the body of the hyoid bone. The sternohyoid is the most superficial of all the infrahyoid muscles and is innervated by the ansa cervicalis (C1-C3). It functions to depress the hyoid bone from an elevated position.
The thyrohyoid muscle constitutes the continuation of the sternothyroid, originating at the oblique line of thyroid cartilage and inserting on the inferior border of the body and greater cornu of the hyoid bone. Unlike the rest of the infrahyoid muscles, the thyrohyoid is innervated by nerve fibers from the anterior ramus of spinal nerve C1, which reaches the muscle via the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). The thyrohyoid has two functions: it can depress the hyoid bone in conjunction with the other infrahyoid muscles, or it can elevate the larynx if the hyoid bone is stabilized by the suprahyoid muscles.
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Hyoid bone conditions are rare but can cause hoarseness, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing
The hyoid bone is the only "floating" bone in the human body, meaning it is not connected to any other bones and is instead held in place by muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. It is located at the front of the neck, below the lower jaw and above the thyroid cartilage.
Hyoid bone conditions are rare, but they can cause hoarseness, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms may indicate hyoid bone syndrome, which is caused by inflammation in the muscles and ligaments surrounding the hyoid bone. This inflammation may be due to tendonitis, whiplash, or other injuries to the area. Treatment for hyoid bone syndrome ranges from injections of local anesthetic or cortisone to resection of the greater cornu, which is the primary site of pain.
Another rare condition affecting the hyoid bone is chondrosarcoma, an extremely rare form of bone cancer that begins in the cartilage. This condition typically presents as a slow-growing lump on the neck. While hyoid bone fractures are also rare, they can result from strangulation, hanging, gunshot wounds, or car accidents.
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned, it is important to consult a healthcare professional. They can help develop a personalized treatment plan to manage your symptoms effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Hyoid muscles are the eight muscles that are attached to the hyoid bone. There are four suprahyoid muscles and four infrahyoid muscles.
The four suprahyoid muscles are the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles. They act to elevate the hyoid bone and initiate swallowing.
The four infrahyoid muscles are the omohyoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid muscles. They act to depress the hyoid bone and play a role in the position of the larynx and swallowing.
The hyoid muscles act to stabilise the trachea and play a vital part in swallowing and speech. Damage to the hyoid muscles can result in difficulty swallowing and speaking, and sometimes a hoarse voice.
