The Hyoid bone is a small (mostly U-shaped) bone located in the front of neck at
level of 3rd cervical vertebra attached to several important ligaments and muscles. It's
involved in breathing , chewing , swallowing and speech . In our study we aimed at
determining age and sex differences regarding morphology and position of hyoid
bone using 3D and 2D CT. Our study was carried out retrospectively on head and
neck CT scan films of 120 normal living Egyptian individuals which were done in
Benha University hospitals .These individuals divided into 3 age groups, each one
contained 40 individuals. Each group contained 20 males and 20 females of the same
age group. Through these CT films, some measurements were taken which were:
degree of fusion between hyoid body and greater horn, length and height of hyoid
bone body, length of greater horn, angle between body and greater horn, hyoid width,
hyoid length, MP.H. (Mandibular plane – hyoid distance) and H.RGn (Hyoid –
Retroganthion distance). Different shapes of hyoid bone were recorded and its
association with certain sex. The measurements were analyzed statistically in relation
to age and sex. We found that there were significant differences between male and
female regarding : shape , body length , body height , GH length ,Hyoid width ,Hyoid
Length and H.RGn.There were statistically significant differences between age
groups regarding fusion , and degree of fusion and body height and MP.H. Finally ,
we concluded that hyoid bone could be utilized to assign age, sex and race when used
in conjunction with other bones of the body . These measurements could also be used
to explain etiology of incidence of certain respiratory diseases.
|
