Sexual dimorphism of hyoid bone morphology and position from third cervical vertebrae

Introduction: This study correlates hyoid bone morphology and position to third cervical vertebrae (C3) in males and females using lateral cephalograms. Material and Methods: lateral cephalograms were taken of 300 subjects, 150 male age 11-16 years and 150 female age 10-14 years. Linear measurements were taken from most anterio-inferior point of third cervical vertebrae (C3) to most anterior point of hyoid bone, hyoid bone length and width. Result: These parameters revealed linear measurements consistently larger length, width & distance from C3 (p=0.002, p=0.013 & p<0 p=0.583, p=0.346,> Conclusion: Statistically significant difference where noticed and linear measurements were consistently larger in male than in female. The hyoid bone was positioned more inferiorly and anteriorly and was more prominent in male than in female as age progressed.