Morphometric Analysis of the Hyoid Bone and its Relationship with Mandible and Neurocranial Structures for Sex Prediction in Autopsy Cases

This study aims to determine the morphology of the hyoid bone in autopsy cases and investigate its relationship with sex, age, height, mandible length, and cranial length, thereby contributing significantly to clinical practice and forensic medicine. Conducted on 75 cases ranging from 18 to 90 years of age, referred to the Tokat Forensic Medicine Institution, the study employed precise digital calipers for length measurements and a precise digital scale for weighing the hyoid bone. The volume of the hyoid bone was calculated using the Archimedes principle. Results indicated that all hyoid bone measurements were significantly higher in males than females (p<0.001). High-level correlations were found between hyoid and mandible measurements, including circumference and width (r>0.800, p<0.001), suggesting a strong morphometric relationship between the hyoid bone and the mandible and other cranial parameters. These findings are expected to contribute substantially to forensic sciences and anthropometry.