Analysis of Hyoid-Larynx Complex Using 3D Geometric Morphometrics

The aim of this study was to obtain a quantitative anatomical description of the hyoid bone-larynx complex using modern 3D reconstruction tools. The study was conducted on 104 bones from CT scan images of living adult subjects. Three-dimensional reconstructions were created from CT scan images using AVIZO 6.2 software package. A study of this complex was carried out using metric and morphological analyses. Characteristics of the hyoid bone and larynx were highly heterogeneous and were closely linked with the sex, height, and weight of the individuals. Height and width of larynx were significantly greater in men than in women (24.99 vs. 17.3 mm, p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05 and 46.75 vs. 41.07, p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05), whereas the thyroid angle was larger in females (81.12A degrees vs. 74.48A degrees, p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the height and weight of subjects and different measurements of the hyoid-larynx complex. (Pearson's coefficient correlation r = 0.42, p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05 between the height of thyroid ala and the height of subjects and r = 0.1, p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05 between the height of thyroid ala and the weight of subjects). Shape and size analysis of the hyoid-larynx complex showed the existence of a significant sexual dimorphism and high interindividual heterogeneity depending to patient morphology. These results encourage us to go further with functional and imaging correlations.