Question

Hyoid apparatus contains____________
A) Hyaline cartilage
B) Fibrous cartilage
C) Calcified cartilage
D) Elastic cartilage

Answer 1

Hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone located at the root of the tongue in the front of the neck and between the lower jaw and the largest cartilage of the larynx, or voice box. It has no articulation with other bones.

Complete answer:
The main function of the hyoid bone is to provide an attachment structure for the tongue and muscles on the floor of the oral cavity. The hyoid consists of a body, a pair of larger horns, called the greater cornua, and a pair of smaller horns, called the lesser cornua.

The greater cornu are the limbs of the bone. Their outer ends are usually overlapped by the massive sternocleidomastoid muscles. The lesser cornua are small projections from the places called the junctions of the body and the greater cornua. The hyoid has some muscles of the tongue attached to it. The hyoglossus muscles are derived from each side from the whole length of the greater cornu and also from the body of the hyoid. They are inserted into the posterior half or more of the sides of the tongue. The hyoid bone anchors them once they contract to lower down the tongue and widen the mouth. The two geniohyoid muscles arise close to the part at which the two halves of the lower jaw meet. The fibers of the muscles extend downward and backward, close to the central line, to be positioned into the body of the hyoid bone. The contraction of the muscles pulls the hyoid bone upward and forward.

The hyoid apparatus consists of a hyoid body, which is composed of hyaline cartilage. The larynx and tongues are suspended through this structure. Hence, the correct option is A, ‘Hyaline cartilage’.

With the muscle attachments, the hyoid plays a vital role in mastication, swallowing, and voice production. At the beginning of a swallowing motion, the geniohyoid and mylohyoid muscles raise the bone and the floor of the mouth at the same time. The stylohyoid and digastric muscles assist these muscles. The tongue is pressed upward against the palate, and the food is forced backward.

Note: The hyoid apparatus is a horseshoe-shaped structure. The hyoid apparatus is the collective term used for the bones which suspend the tongue and larynx. In humans, the single hyoid bone is equal to the hyoid apparatus. During swallowing, the hyoid bone, tongue, and larynx all move upward rapidly.