Milady Esthetics State Board Practice Test

Which bone supports the base of the tongue?

1. Mandible

2. Maxilla

3. Hyoid

4. Temporal

The correct answer is: Hyoid

The hyoid bone is the correct answer because it is uniquely situated in the neck, functioning as a support structure for the base of the tongue. It is a U-shaped bone that is not directly attached to any other bones but is anchored by muscles and ligaments. This arrangement allows the hyoid to facilitate tongue movement and is essential for swallowing and speaking. The other choices do relate to different structures in the head and neck but serve different functions. The mandible, or jawbone, is primarily responsible for holding the lower teeth and allowing for jaw movement. The maxilla forms the upper jaw and supports the structure of the face, while the temporal bone is part of the skull and houses structures associated with hearing. Thus, none of these bones fulfill the specific role of supporting the base of the tongue in the way the hyoid does.