In their analysis of recovered human remains, forensic anthropologists encounter structures of the throat (hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage/bone, cricoid cartilage/bone) that may present evidence of trauma. The recent published literature provides guidelines for the detection and interpretation of fractures in these tissues. Such traumatic injury frequently is associated with victims of hanging and strangulation, but many other causes have been recognized. Although the hyoid is not always recovered in skeletonized remains, it can reveal evidence of perimortem trauma and must be interpreted appropriately.
