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Glite Dictionary
os hyoideum

os hyoideum

9.9
A U-shaped bone under the tongue that supports its muscles
  • noun
  • /ˈɑs haɪˈoʊɪdəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hueso hioides
  • The os hyoideum serves as an anchoring structure for the tongue muscles.

Examples

  • The os hyoideum is crucial for tongue movement.

  • Can you identify the os hyoideum in this diagram?

  • Damage to the os hyoideum can be significant in cases of strangulation.

  • During the autopsy, the pathologist noted a fracture in the os hyoideum.

  • The os hyoideum is important for proper tongue function during speech and swallowing.

  • During the examination, the doctor carefully assessed the condition of the os hyoideum.

  • Understanding the role of the os hyoideum can aid in diagnosing certain throat disorders.

Synonyms

hyoid
vsos hyoideum
  • Specialized
8 9.9

A small U-shaped bone under the tongue that supports tongue muscles and is not attached to other bones

does not state that it is unattached to other bones
hyoid bone
vsos hyoideum
  • Specialized
5 8.1

A U-shaped bone in the neck under the tongue that supports its muscles

refers to the same bone without mentioning its neck location

Surface Forms

os hyoideum singular
os hyoidea plural

Morphology

os + hyoideum

The term is morphologically compositional: 'os' = bone and 'hyoideum' corresponds to 'hyoid' (relating to the hyoid), so the meaning 'hyoid bone' is directly derivable from the parts. Although this is a Latin/technical anatomical label that may be unfamiliar to B1 learners, the transparent bone+modifier structure and widespread cross-linguistic medical cognates make it predictable to anyone who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Os hyoideum comes from Latin and Greek words: os means 'bone' and hyoideum means 'U-shaped', like the letter U. It is a small U-shaped bone that sits under the tongue and supports the tongue and its muscles, so the name gives a clear picture of the 'bone that supports the tongue'.