Symmetry and isometry of human adult hyoid bone: A cadaveric study in North Indian population

Abstract

Introduction: Hyoid bone fracture is one of the most integral parts of internal examination during autopsy of hanging, ligature strangulation, or a throttling case. The reasons why some hyoids fracture and others do not may be related to the nature, magnitude, and position of the force applied to the neck, age of victim, nature of instrument (ligature or hand) used to strangle, and intrinsic anatomical features of the hyoid bone, such as rigidity and shape of the bone and symmetry of greater horns. Materials and Methods: The material for the present study comprised of 30 dried hyoid bones (M:F: 15:15). Their outline was drawn on the graph paper to study the symmetry and isometry of the bone. Results: Forty percent of the hyoids bones were symmetrical, while 60% were asymmetrical. Similarly, the number of anisometric bone is more (86.6%) as compared with isometric bone (13.3%) in both the sexes. Conclusion: Hyoid bone is not bilaterally symmetrical bone. The incidence of asymmetrical and anisometric bones is more as compared with symmetrical and isometric bones in both the sexes.

Keywords

• Hyoid bone
• isometry
• symmetry