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Body of hyoid bone

The body of the hyoid bone is the central, horizontal portion of the hyoid, connecting the two lateral cornua (greater and lesser horns). It is U-shaped and situated at the level of the C3 vertebra, anterior to the pharynx and superior to the thyroid cartilage. The body serves as a central anchor for multiple muscles of the suprahyoid and infrahyoid groups, including the geniohyoid, mylohyoid, sternohyoid, and thyrohyoid muscles, playing a crucial role in swallowing, tongue movement, and airway support. The cortical bone is thin and compact, surrounding a small amount of marrow. Its position and morphology make it a key landmark in midline neck anatomy, forensic analysis, and radiological evaluation of trauma.

Synonyms

  • Central portion of hyoid bone

  • Midline hyoid body

  • Corpus hyoideum

Function

  • Serves as an attachment point for suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles

  • Provides structural support to the tongue and floor of the mouth

  • Contributes to airway patency and swallowing mechanics

  • Acts as a landmark for midline neck anatomy and surgical orientation

MRI Appearance
T1-weighted images:

  • The body of the hyoid appears as hypointense (low signal) linear or U-shaped structure

  • Surrounded by hyperintense subcutaneous and parapharyngeal fat, which provides natural contrast

  • Bone marrow within the body may show intermediate signal

  • Fractures, marrow edema, or tumors appear as focal areas of altered signal intensity

T2-weighted images:

  • The cortical bone remains hypointense, while marrow or surrounding soft tissues may appear hyperintense

  • Useful for detecting edema, inflammatory changes, or lesions

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Fat suppression removes the high signal from surrounding fat

  • Pathological changes such as bone marrow edema, trauma, or tumor infiltration appear bright hyperintense

  • Normal cortical body remains low signal, providing clear contrast with abnormal tissue

CT Appearance

  • The body of the hyoid is hyperdense and well-corticated

  • Surrounded by air of the pharyngeal cavity, which appears hypodense (black), providing excellent contrast

  • Easily visualized in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes, allowing precise evaluation of fractures, dislocations, or anatomical variations

MRI images

Body of hyoid bone mri axial image -img-00000-00000