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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
Examples of hyoid bone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Torre found that male and female vaquitas have differently shaped hyoid bones, suggesting distinct types of vocalizations for each.
—Erik Vance, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2017
The medical examiner testified to her findings, but Tucker noticed that the autopsy revealed the hyoid bone in Marianne's neck was intact and not broken.
—CBS News, 15 Oct. 2022
The hyoid bone viewed superiorly in humans (left), Neanderthals (center), and chimpanzees (right).
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2018
Strangulation almost always leaves physical signs such as bruising, pinpricks of under-the-skin bleeding in the face, or fractures of the hyoid bone in the neck, said Gary Watts, president of the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.
—Author: Wesley Lowery, Hannah Knowles, Mark Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Dec. 2020
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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
Dictionary Entries Near hyoid bone
Cite this Entry
“Hyoid bone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyoid%20bone. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on hyoid bone
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hyoid bone
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