The hyoid bone supports the tongue.
Understanding the Hyoid Bone
The hyoid bone, also known as the lingual bone or tongue bone, is a unique bone in the human body. Unlike other bones, it doesn't directly articulate (connect) with any other bones. Instead, it's suspended in the neck, supported by muscles and ligaments. This "floating" bone plays a crucial role in swallowing and speaking.
- Location: Situated in the anterior midline of the neck, between the chin and the thyroid cartilage ("Adam's apple").
- Shape: A horseshoe shape.
- Function: Provides support for the tongue, enabling its movement for speech and swallowing.
Several sources confirm this:
- Cleveland Clinic: "[Your hyoid bone] supports your tongue and plays a key role in speaking and swallowing."[1]
- Quizlet: "What bone supports the tongue? hyoid."[2]
- Study.com: "The hyoid bone is the bone that supports the tongue."[3]
- Wikipedia: "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…"[4]
- Waisman Center: The hyoid bone plays a "vital role in speech and swallowing".[5]
Therefore, the hyoid bone's primary function is to provide a stable base for the tongue's complex movements.
References:
[1] My.Clevelandclinic.org. (2023, November 7). Hyoid Bone: Function, Location & Anatomy. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/hyoid-bone
[2] Quizlet. (n.d.). Organization of the Skeleton Flashcards. Retrieved from https://quizlet.com/412948226/organization-of-the-skeleton-flash-cards/
[3] Homework.Study.com. (n.d.). What bone supports the tongue?. Retrieved from https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-bone-supports-the-tongue.html
[4] Wikipedia contributors. (2024, January 25). Hyoid bone. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyoid_bone
[5] Waisman Center. (2016, June 23). A bone to speak and to swallow. Retrieved from https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/2016/06/23/a-bone-to-speak-and-to-swallow/
