hyoid bone
noun
variants or less commonly hyoid
plural hyoid bones also hyoids
: a U-shaped bone or complex of bones that is situated between the base of the tongue and the larynx and that supports the tongue, the larynx, and their muscles
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Speaking generally, Wecht said some signs that typically point to strangulation include fractures or defects of the hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, and, in men, the Adam’s apple, among other structures in the neck. 
Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 13 Oct. 2021 Baden cited a broken bone in Epstein's neck as potential proof of strangulation, but Sampson said fractures of the hyoid bone — which is a neck bone — happen in both suicides and homicides. Adrienne Dunn, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2020 The tongue is connected to the flexible hyoid bone that wraps around the skull, allowing the tongue to extend far out of the beak while also acting as a safety harness for the brain during pecking. National Geographic, 17 Sep. 2020 At the time of his death Baden said the 66-year-old had two fractures on the left and right sides of his larynx, specifically the thyroid cartilage or Adam’s apple, as well as one fracture on the left hyoid bone above the Adam’s apple. Fox News, 10 Aug. 2020 The extra-large hyoid bones in their vocal tract house massive air sacs that amplify their bombastic voice to superlative heights; they are often regarded as the loudest of any land animal. Jessica Boddy, Popular Science, 3 Feb. 2020 Among the bones broken in Epstein's neck was the hyoid bone, which in men is near the Adam's apple. Aaron C. Davis, chicagotribune.com, 15 Aug. 2019 For decades, neuroscientists thought nonhuman primates couldn’t speak because their hyoid bone—found near the larynx—is situated differently than ours. Jessica Boddy, Popular Science, 2 Feb. 2020 Among the bones broken in Epstein's neck was the hyoid bone, which in men is near the Adam's apple. Aaron C. Davis, chicagotribune.com, 15 Aug. 2019 See More
Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 13 Oct. 2021 Baden cited a broken bone in Epstein's neck as potential proof of strangulation, but Sampson said fractures of the hyoid bone — which is a neck bone — happen in both suicides and homicides. Adrienne Dunn, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2020 The tongue is connected to the flexible hyoid bone that wraps around the skull, allowing the tongue to extend far out of the beak while also acting as a safety harness for the brain during pecking. National Geographic, 17 Sep. 2020 At the time of his death Baden said the 66-year-old had two fractures on the left and right sides of his larynx, specifically the thyroid cartilage or Adam’s apple, as well as one fracture on the left hyoid bone above the Adam’s apple. Fox News, 10 Aug. 2020 The extra-large hyoid bones in their vocal tract house massive air sacs that amplify their bombastic voice to superlative heights; they are often regarded as the loudest of any land animal. Jessica Boddy, Popular Science, 3 Feb. 2020 Among the bones broken in Epstein's neck was the hyoid bone, which in men is near the Adam's apple. Aaron C. Davis, chicagotribune.com, 15 Aug. 2019 For decades, neuroscientists thought nonhuman primates couldn’t speak because their hyoid bone—found near the larynx—is situated differently than ours. Jessica Boddy, Popular Science, 2 Feb. 2020 Among the bones broken in Epstein's neck was the hyoid bone, which in men is near the Adam's apple. Aaron C. Davis, chicagotribune.com, 15 Aug. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin hyoides, from Greek hyoeidēs shaped like the letter upsilon (Υ, υ), being the hyoid bone, from y, hy upsilon
First Known Use
circa 1811, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
hyoid bone
noun
: a U-shaped bone or complex of bones that is situated between the base of the tongue and the larynx and that supports the tongue, the larynx, and their muscles
called also hyoid, lingual bone