HYOID BONE Meaning and
Definition
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The hyoid bone is a small, U-shaped bone located in the upper part of the neck, between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. It is the only bone in the human body that does not directly connect with any other bones. The name "hyoid" is derived from the Greek term "hyoeides," meaning "shaped like the letter U."
The primary function of the hyoid bone is to support and stabilize the tongue. It serves as an anchor for various muscles involved in swallowing, speech, and breathing. The bone is suspended in the neck by muscles and ligaments, allowing it to move and facilitate these vital functions.
The hyoid bone consists of a central body and two pairs of projections known as cornua (singular: cornu). The greater cornua, longer than the lesser cornua, extend backward from the body of the hyoid bone. These cornua provide attachment points for muscles and ligaments in the neck.
Additionally, the hyoid bone plays a crucial role in forensic science and anthropology. Its unique shape and position can help determine the age, sex, and even ethnicity of an individual. Furthermore, the hyoid bone is of forensic significance in cases involving strangulation, as its fracture pattern can provide valuable evidence in investigating such incidents.
Overall, the hyoid bone is a distinct and important structure in the human body, contributing to various functions and serving as a significant diagnostic tool in several fields of study.
Common Misspellings for HYOID BONE
- gyoid bone
- byoid bone
- nyoid bone
- jyoid bone
- uyoid bone
- yyoid bone
- htoid bone
- hgoid bone
- hhoid bone
- huoid bone
- h7oid bone
- h6oid bone
- hyiid bone
- hykid bone
- hylid bone
- hypid bone
- hy0id bone
- hy9id bone
- hyoud bone
Etymology of HYOID BONE
The word "hyoid" is derived from the Greek word "hyoeides", which means "shaped like the letter upsilon (υ)". The upsilon (υ) is the 20th letter of the Greek alphabet and resembles the shape of the hyoid bone. The term "bone" comes from Old English "bān", which is related to the Old Norse "bein" and the German "Bein". Therefore, "hyoid bone" essentially refers to a bone shaped like the letter upsilon.
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