Hyoid bone

The hyoid bone (lingual bone or tongue-bone) (/ˈhaɪɔɪd/) is a horseshoe-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. At rest, it lies at the level of the base of the mandible in the front and the third cervical vertebra (C3) behind.Muscles of the pharynx and cheek.Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.The hyoid bone of a gecko with attached tracheal ringsHyoid bones of various birds.Position of hyoid bone (shown in red).Shape of hyoid bone. The hyoid bone (lingual bone or tongue-bone) (/ˈhaɪɔɪd/) is a horseshoe-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. At rest, it lies at the level of the base of the mandible in the front and the third cervical vertebra (C3) behind. Unlike other bones, the hyoid is only distantly articulated to other bones by muscles or ligaments. The hyoid is anchored by muscles from the anterior, posterior and inferior directions, and aids in tongue movement and swallowing. 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. Its name is derived from Greek hyoeides, meaning 'shaped like the letter upsilon (υ)'. The hyoid bone is classed as an irregular bone and consists of a central part called the body, and two pairs of horns, the greater and lesser horns.