hyoid bone
Tongue's floating anchor
The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue and anchors muscles involved in swallowing and speech.
Unlike most bones, it doesn't articulate with any other bone—it's suspended by muscles and ligaments beneath the jaw.
Forensic examiners check for hyoid fracture as evidence of strangulation.
Speech-producing throat organ
- pharynxMuscular throat cavity
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- mandibleLower facial bone
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
U-shaped · cervical · lingual · ossification · Adam's apple
Act of swallowing
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
- pharynxMuscular throat cavity
- esophagusFood tube to stomach
bolus · mastication · dysphagia · aspiration
Death by neck compression
- fractureSplit in hard material
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- asphyxiationDeath from oxygen loss
- cause of deathWhy someone died
homicide · compression · forensic pathology · postmortem · hanging · suffocation · medicolegal
Vocal fold vibration
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- larynxSpeech-producing throat organ
- voice productionCreating speech sounds
- articulationClear vocal expression
larynx
Speech-producing throat organ
epiglottis · U-shaped · cervical · lingual · ossification · Adam's apple
deglutition
Act of swallowing
- tongueOral muscle for taste
- epiglottisWindpipe-covering throat cartilage
- pharynxMuscular throat cavity
esophagus · bolus · mastication · dysphagia · aspiration
strangulation
Death by neck compression
- fractureSplit in hard material
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- asphyxiationDeath from oxygen loss
cause of death · homicide · compression · forensic pathology · postmortem · hanging · suffocation · medicolegal
phonation
Vocal fold vibration
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- larynxSpeech-producing throat organ
- voice productionCreating speech sounds