[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Head and neck](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/head-and-neck/) › Hyoid bone [Skeletal system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/skeletal-system/) · [Head and neck](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/head-and-neck/) # Hyoid bone The hyoid is a U-shaped bone in the upper neck that touches no other bone; it anchors the tongue and the muscles that move the larynx when swallowing. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=head_neck&select=hyoid_bone&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is A U-shaped bone in the upper neck that touches no other bone. ## What it does Anchors the tongue and the muscles that move the larynx when swallowing. ## Key points - Forensic marker: a fractured greater horn suggests neck compression, more with manual strangulation than hanging, but it is often intact, especially in young people whose hyoid has not fused - The anchor between the suprahyoid muscles ([digastric](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/anterior-belly-of-digastric-muscle/), [stylohyoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/stylohyoid-muscle/), mylohyoid, geniohyoid) and the infrahyoid muscles, which raise and lower the larynx in swallowing - The thyroglossal duct passes in front of, behind or through its body, so a thyroglossal cyst sits near it and rises when the tongue is protruded - The lingual artery runs deep to hyoglossus just above the greater horn, a landmark in neck surgery ## Key facts **Joints with** None (floats; held by muscles and ligaments) **Landmarks** Body, greater and lesser horns; level C3 ## Relations **Above** Floor of the mouth and the [tongue](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tongue/): [mylohyoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/mylohyoid-muscle/), [geniohyoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/geniohyoid-muscle/), [hyoglossus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hyoglossus-muscle/) and the middle pharyngeal constrictor attach here **Below** [Thyroid cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thyroid-cartilage/), joined by the [thyrohyoid membrane](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-thyrohyoid-ligament/) (pierced by the internal laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal vessels); [sternohyoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/sternohyoid-muscle/), [omohyoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/omohyoid-muscle/) and [thyrohyoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thyrohyoid-muscle/) attach below **Behind** [Epiglottis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/epiglottis/), linked by the hyoepiglottic ligament, with the pre-epiglottic space between them; the [pharynx](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pharynx/) behind **Lateral** The greater horns reach toward the [carotid bifurcation](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/carotid-bifurcation/); the [hypoglossal nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hypoglossal-nerve/) and [lingual artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lingual-artery/) run just above them **Superficial** [Platysma](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/platysma/) and [skin](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin/) in the angle between the chin and the neck ## How to find it With the neck slightly extended it is felt in the angle between the floor of the mouth and the front of the neck, above the thyroid cartilage; it can be moved side to side and rises on swallowing. ## On imaging CT shows fractures of the horns and body; in trauma and forensic imaging an unfused joint between the body and a greater horn can be mistaken for a fracture. ## Clinical notes - Thyroglossal cyst surgery removes the middle part of the hyoid body with the cyst and tract (Sistrunk operation), which lowers recurrence - Hyoid suspension is one of the surgical options for obstructive sleep apnoea - The greater horn can be felt and mistaken for a lump in a thin neck ## Anatomical variants - The stylohyoid ligament, from the styloid process to the lesser horn, may be partly ossified or the styloid process elongated; a few of these people have throat or neck pain on swallowing or turning the head (Eagle syndrome) ## Development Develops from the second (lesser horns, upper body) and third (greater horns, lower body) pharyngeal arch cartilages; the greater horns fuse to the body in adult life or never. ## Related conditions - [Thyroglossal duct cyst and branchial cleft cyst](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/thyroglossal-duct-cyst-and-branchial-cleft-cyst/) - [Obstructive sleep apnoea](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnoea/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What does a fractured greater horn of the hyoid bone suggest at autopsy? Neck compression, more with manual strangulation than hanging; but it is often intact, especially in young people whose hyoid has not fused. ## Why does a thyroglossal cyst rise on tongue protrusion, and what does its surgery remove? The thyroglossal duct passes by or through the hyoid body; the Sistrunk operation removes the middle of the hyoid body with the cyst and tract. ## Which muscle groups attach to the hyoid bone, and what do they do in swallowing? The suprahyoid (digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid) and infrahyoid muscles; they raise and lower the larynx. ## Which nerve pierces the thyrohyoid membrane between the hyoid bone and the thyroid cartilage? The internal laryngeal nerve, with the superior laryngeal vessels. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/hyoid-bone/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** os hyoideum TA2 876 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Hueso Hioides DeCS D006928 **English (TA2)** Hyoid bone **Also called** os hyoides · os linguae · lingual bone Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=7107&filter=ths_termall&q=Hyoid%20Bone); [Anatomy, Head and Neck: Hyoid Bone](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539726/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hyoid-bone/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hyoid-bone/