Anatomy Bones The Anatomy of the Hyoid Bone By Anne Asher, CPT Anne Asher, CPT Facebook LinkedIn Anne Asher, ACE-certified personal trainer, health coach, and orthopedic exercise specialist, is a back and neck pain expert. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 31, 2022 Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD LinkedIn Kashif J. Piracha, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology. He has an active clinical practice at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital in Houston, Texas. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print The hyoid bone is a small horseshoe-shaped bone located in the front of your neck. It sits between the chin and the thyroid cartilage and is instrumental in the function of swallowing and tongue movements. The little talked about hyoid bone is a unique part of the human skeleton for a number of reasons. First, it's mobile. This means that other than its attachment site to the thyroid cartilage (which is part of the larynx and discussed below) it floats. You can even move your hyoid from side to side—for safety's sake, very gently—by lightly touching either end and then alternating an ever so slight pushing action. This action is called palpating the hyoid bone. Second, it has an unusual shape that resembles a horseshoe. From breathing to eating, the hyoid bone plays a role in a number of key functions that keep you alive. Anatomy of the Hyoid The hyoid is situated at the front, or anterior, part of the neck between the jaw bone and the thyroid cartilage, and is firmly secured to the thyroid cartilage by ligaments. It resides at the level of the third cervical vertebra, attaching indirectly, by means of tendons to muscles of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the anterior neck. Although it is small, the hyoid bone is only rarely fractured. This is due to its location, which generally protects the bone from all but direct trauma. The hyoid bone provides a place of attachment for several anterior (front) neck muscles. The muscles that attach onto the hyoid bone include, but are not limited to, the: SternohyoidMylohyoidOmohyoidDigastric muscles These and other anterior neck muscles play a role in swallowing and may be affected in cases of neck injuries or misalignment. The hyoid bone is located above the Adam's apple (in men) and below the tonsils and the epiglottis. While not technically a part of the larynx, at the top, the two structures are very close. The hyoid provides an attachment site for muscles that control movements of the larynx. Function Since the hyoid functions as an attachment point for the larynx, it's involved in any function that the larynx is involved in. The larynx is the area above your windpipe, aka trachea, that helps protect you from choking on foreign objects. Perhaps the most well-known example of this is when food "goes down the wrong pipe." The larynx does its primary job of protecting you from choking by quickly closing off the opening to the trachea when a foreign object tries to enter. Remember, the windpipe is built for air, not things. Another thing the larynx does is produce sound; singers and speakers often refer to the larynx as the voice box. The larynx is also responsible for coughing, which is part of the choking protection mechanism function mentioned above. Laryngitis The larynx has a few other purposes, as well, including playing a role in ventilation and functioning as a sensory organ. A second function of the hyoid bone is to provide a foundation or base from which the tongue can move. Finally, the hyoid bone is involved in respiration it plays a role in keeping the airway open. That important not only for breathing but for sleep and sleeping disorders, such as sleep apnea. Rehabilitation The hyoid bone is small, and it functions as an attachment point for many muscles involved in swallowing, jaw movements, and respiration. Swallowing function may be impaired due to problems such as stroke, neck injuries, or jaw and neck cancers. If that occurs, working with a specialist like a speech pathologist may be useful. Your speech therapist may perform specific exercises to help you swallow better, and these may involve getting familiar with your hyoid bone. Exercises for swallowing function may include: Mendelsohn maneuverEffortful swallowSupraglottic swallow How To Do Swallowing Exercises Your therapist may also teach you how to mobilize your hyoid bone and to stretch or strengthen the muscles that surround it. Frequently Asked Questions What are the functions of the hyoid bone? The hyoid bone helps with producing sound, coughing, moving the tongue, breathing, maintaining head posture, and avoiding choking. Since the hyoid bone is an attachment point of the larynx, its functions include anything to do with the larynx. What causes a hyoid bone fracture? Hyoid bone fractures are usually caused by any strangulation/asphyxiation injury, neck trauma, or a motor vehicle accident. They are considered very rare. Why is the hyoid bone unique? The hyoid bone is unique due to its placement in the body. Unlike other bones, it is not directly attached to any surrounding bones, only muscles. The hyoid bone is attached to more than four muscles, including the sternohyoid, mylohyoid, omohyoid, and digastric muscles. 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Al Julaih GH, Menezes RG. Anatomy, head and neck, hyoid bone. StatPearls. Zhang Z. Mechanics of human voice production and control. J Acoust Soc Am. 2016;140(4):2614. doi:10.1121/1.4964509 Pauloski BR. Rehabilitation of dysphagia following head and neck cancer. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2008;19(4):889-928, x. doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2008.05.010 Ramchand T, Choudhry OJ, Shukla PA, Tomovic S, Kuperan AB, Eloy JA. Management of hyoid bone fractures: a systematic review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Aug;147(2):204-8. doi:10.1177/0194599812451409 Additional Reading Messina G. The tongue, mandible, hyoid system. Eur J Transl Myol. 2017;27(1):6363. Published 2017 Mar 24. doi:10.4081/ejtm.2017.6363 Moore, K., Dalley, A. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Fifth. Edition. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Baltimore. Porr J, Laframboise M, Kazemi M. Traumatic hyoid bone fracture - a case report and review of the literature. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012;56(4):269-274. By Anne Asher, CPT Anne Asher, ACE-certified personal trainer, health coach, and orthopedic exercise specialist, is a back and neck pain expert. 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