Abstract: Objective To understand and analyze the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and its gender difference in order to find out its forensic significance. Methods The hyoid bones of 68 adult corpses were dissected from redundant soft tissues after heating. The connection status of body of hyoid, greater cornu and lesser cornu, the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and the degree of ossification were observed by visual inspection. The height of hyoid bone and the arched height of hyoid bone were measured and compared the differences between male and female in order to deduce the analytic equation for gender estimation by hyoid bone. Results Five connection conditions of hyoid bone were identified by the morphological characteristics, including complete ossification in both sides, no ossification in both sides, partial ossification in both sides, complete ossification in one side （partial ossification in the other side）, and complete ossification in one side （no ossification in the other side）. The values of the arched height of hyoid bone （x₁） and the height of hyoid bone （x₂） in male were both higher than that in female （P<0.01）. The analytic equation for gender estimation （y） was y=0.438 x₁+1.042 x₂-12.979. The discriminant value was -0.272 5 and the resolution was 88.2%. Conclusion According to the gender characteristics of hyoid bone, the data of hyoid bone can provide helps for forensic practices.

Key words: forensic anthropology, hyoid bone, gender