[Study of morphometric parameters of the hyoid bone]

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Anthropology

Background:

• The hyoid bone, a unique U-shaped bone in the neck, is crucial for speech and swallowing.
• Understanding its morphological and morphometric variations is essential for anthropological and forensic studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the morphological and morphometric variations of the hyoid bone in the Tver region population.
• To compare these findings with other populations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 100 adult hyoid bone samples (63 males, 37 females).
• Identification and classification of hyoid bone shapes.
• Measurement of key dimensions: width, length, and largest transverse axis.

Main Results:

• Six hyoid bone types were identified: B-shaped (48%), U-shaped (25%), D-shaped (14%), HK-shaped (8%), H-shaped (3%), and V-shaped (2%).
• Average dimensions: width (42.44 mm), length (36.49 mm), and largest transverse axis (35.6 mm).
• Significant morphological differences were observed compared to other populations.

Conclusions:

• The Tver region population exhibits distinct hyoid bone morphological characteristics.
• These anatomical variations and dimensions are vital for practical forensic medicine, aiding in identification and analysis.