[The role of the hyoid bone during the swallowing process]

The main purpose of this paper was to review the role of the hyoid movement in the swallowing process and the effect of swallowing posture, age, gender, bolus properties on the hyoid movement. The displacement of the hyoid bone was divided into vertical and forward displacement. The vertical displacement of the hyoid bone contributes primarily to epiglottic and laryngeal closure, while the anterior displacement contributes primarily to opening of the UES. The dysphagia patients often experienced a reduction in hyoid bone displacement. Therefore, further research on the movement of the hyoid bone in the deglutition, especially the relationship between anterior displacement and UES opening is necessary.