What Is The Hyoid Bone In A Horse?

The hyoid apparatus consists of a selection of small bones that articulate together. Its name means “shaped like the letter upsilon (Y)”, and it is situated at the base of the skull; between the cheeks of the horse. The hyoid apparatus connects to the skull via the temporohyoid joint.

What does the hyoid do in a horse?

The hyoid apparatus in horses consists of an assembly of bony rods, some of which articulate together. Several muscles are attached to this apparatus, and the contraction of theses muscles alters shape and position, which in turn, changes the position and shape of the larynx and nasopharynx.

Do horses have hyoid bones?

In horses, the hyoid apparatus is made up of several paired bones: the stylohyoid, epohyoid, ceratohyoid, and thyrohyoid, attaching to the central basihyoid bone. The basihyoid connects to the lingual process, where the tongue is attached.

What is special about the hyoid bone?

Famously, the hyoid bone is the only bone in humans that does not articulate with any other bone, but only has muscular, ligamentous, and cartilaginous attachments. Given this peculiarity, it has been described as “free floating” [1].

How do you release a hyoid in a horse?

The Hyoid can be released using manual therapy or with Phototonic Red Light therapy. I often use a combination of both. For some horses this release is a long lasting change and in others a few regular sessions are required before the restrictions are fully released.

What does the hyoid bone control?

The primary function of the hyoid bone is to serve as an attachment structure for the tongue and for muscles in the floor of the oral cavity. It has no articulation with other bones.

What are the two functions of the hyoid bone?

Together with its attached muscles, the hyoid bone has two important functions: it holds up the tongue, which sits above it, and it holds up the larynx, which hangs below it. It also transmits the force of muscles that help to open the jaw. Let’s take a closer look at the hyoid bone.

What happens when a hyoid bone breaks?

Complications. Complications of hyoid bone fracture are divided into early and late. Early complications include subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnoea, pharyngeal tears and thyroid cartilage injury. Late complications are dysphagia, stridor, pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery, and crepitus by neck flexion [1].

What is the strongest bone in a horse?

Cannon Bone – This is the strongest bone in the horse’s body. Articulates with the 2nd row of carpal bones and forms the carpal/metacarpal joint. Distally articulates with the long pastern bone and joins with the fetlock joint.

What is the most common bone fracture in horses?

The most common fractures are: Fractures of the pedal bone. These most commonly occur if the horse kicks out at a wall or lands on an irregular surface. If the fracture does not involve the coffin (coronopedal or P2/P3) joint, most heal well with rest and the application of a bar shoe.

Do females have a hyoid bone?

In females, U shaped hyoid bone is more common (35.29%) followed by V (20.58%) and deviated type (20.58%) and the least common type among females is boat shaped (8.8%) (Table 2).

Is the hyoid bone connected to anything?

With the exception of the cervical vertebrae, the hyoid bone is the only bone located in the anterior neck. Unlike other bony structures, the hyoid bone does not directly articulate with other bones. Instead, it is connected to neighbouring bones by muscular and ligamentous attachments.

Is the hyoid bone the Adam’s apple?

The hyoid bone is located above the Adam’s apple in the neck, and is attached to muscles of the tongue and other soft tissues in the throat. This bone moves around, and this mobility may allow the area to collapse and cause airway blockage during sleep.

Can a horse recover from choke on its own?

If the condition has gone unnoticed, the horse may become dehydrated and severely depressed. If the esophagus ruptures, death may follow due to shock and infection. Fortunately, this is not common. Although many cases clear on their own, if you think your horse has choke, call your veterinarian immediately.

What to do with a horse that refuses to go forward?

If your horse doesn’t go forward, you can turn it in a small circle, asking it to obey with your rein, seat and leg aids. The idea is not to spin the horse so it becomes disoriented, but to take its mind off of balking.

Why do horses lift their top lip up?

Horses, as well as cats, rhinos and hedgehogs have this as a response to help their sense of smell. Raising their upper lip increases the flow of air through their nostrils which widens the scent openings behind their teeth on the upper palette.

What causes hyoid bone pain?

Small muscles that control the hyoid bone or Adam’s apple can develop trigger points and be overactive due to changes to jaw and neck motion or injury to these areas. Injury to the upper neck with pain and loss of mobility, even changes to the bone as seen with imaging, can refer pain into the throat.

How does the hyoid bone affect swallowing?

The hyoid bone moves during swallowing as a result of suprahyoid muscle contraction. Hyoid movement is required for adequate opening of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and is readily measured from a videofluoroscopic dynamic swallow study.

Is hyoid bone a skull bone?

The hyoid bone is an intermediary between the skull and postcranial skeleton. It combines skeletal elements of the second and the third pharyngeal arches associated with the gills of primitive fish. The hyoid bone is located in the neck and can be palpated immediately above the thyroid cartilage.

What are three functions of the hyoid bone?

Clinical significance. The hyoid bone is important to a number of physiological functions, including breathing, swallowing and speech.

Can you touch your hyoid bone?

The hyoid bone sits just under the tongue, kind of tucked up into the junction of the chin with the neck. If you want to feel it, put your fingertips in the corner of that junction, push in just a tiny little bit, and swallow.