Evaluation of hyoid bone position, shape, area, volume, and tongue volume

Our study aims to determine the position and types of the hyoid bone and to evaluate the morphometry of the hyoid bone and tongue according to sex.

Our study included cervical Computed Tomography (CT) images of 200 individuals (100 females, 100 males) between the ages of 18 and 84. Using the 3D Slicer software package, hyoid bone position, shape, area, volume and tongue volume measurements were made on these images.

In our study, the position of the hyoid bone was found to be proportionally at the C3 vertebral level in both sexes. The most common hyoid bone was type B, while the least common was type V. Type B rate was statistically higher in females, and type H rate was higher in males (p < 0.05). Participants with type H had statistically higher bone volumes and areas than those with type B (p < 0.05). Differences between bone volumes and areas of other bone types were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Average hyoid bone volume (females 1575.9 mm³; males 2609.6 mm³), hyoid bone area (females 1519.8 mm²; males 2406.4 mm²), tongue volume (females 66,659.5 mm³; males 83,085.5 mm³) were measured in females and males. A statistically weak negative correlation was found between the participants' ages and hyoid bone areas (rho = -0.162; p = 0.022). A statistically moderate positive correlation was found between tongue volume and hyoid bone volume/area (respectively p < 0.001; rho₁ = 0.658, rho₂ = 0.546).

Hyoid bone volume, hyoid bone area and tongue volume were higher in males than females. As tongue volume increased, hyoid bone volume and hyoid bone area increased. The connection between tongue volume and hyoid bone volume will contribute to dentomaxillary development and surgical procedures, and bone morphology will also be important in different disciplines.