What fleshy muscular organ is joined to the hyoid bone?

The hyoid bone (lingual bone or tongue-bone) 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 important to a number of physiological functions, including breathing, swallowing and speech. It is also thought to play a key role in keeping the upper airway open during sleep, and as such, the development and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; characterized by repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep).

Due to its position, the hyoid bone is not easily susceptible to fracture. In a suspected case of murder, a fractured hyoid strongly indicates throttling or strangulation in an adult. However, this is not necessarily the case in children and adolescents, where the hyoid bone is still flexible as ossification is yet to be completed.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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62 Comments

John W Shreve

Andres Sa Ba, Tell it to these guys: SCIENCE HUMAN ANATOMY Q: Is the tongue a tissue, organ or organ system? A: QUICK ANSWER The tongue is a muscular organ. It is made up of various muscles that work in different ways to allow speaking, breathing and swallowing. CONTINUE READING

David Reed

Well that was a lot to swallow.

Donna Lockwood Perras

Andres Sa Ba, yes it is it is a muscular organ in the mouth. You can check that either on Google or by Siri

billyboy915

Andres Sa Ba, Yes the tongue is an organ. An organ is a part of a living thing, distinct from the other parts, that is adapted for a specific function. Organs are made up of tissues and are grouped into systems, such as the digestive system. Please note: The brain, liver, and skin are organs. So is the tongue.

Player

Thank you CSI.

farida mahjoub

I proceed by successive eliminations

albert

I learned about the hyoid bone from the tv show Criminal Minds. A serial killer was taking the hyoid bones of his victims as trophys. :)

Wes Baran

igrann, Many different sources, including Gray's Anatomy (the textbook, not the TV show), WebMD, and others, refer to the tongue as a muscular organ.

marcaultjeanne

Process of elimination. Heart, kidneys and liver shouldn't be fatty.

igrann

I am not disagreeing with the answer. but the tongue is not an organ.

Mohan Krishnan

Got it

andrew anna

Got it.

Jim Adams

I learned all about human anatomy by watching "Bones".

BPlunkettTurner

Yep and at one time it was suspected that my neck problem may have started or involved this bone but it worked out and I only needed an Anterior Spinal fusion. That's from the front. Posterior is the rear or back.