@atomedgeanatomy: The hyoid bone—a solitary structure suspended by muscles and ligaments—floats freely, the only bone not articulating with others. It anchors speech, swallowing, and respiration. As food descends, the three pharyngeal constrictor muscles contract in sequence, guiding it down the esophagus with rhythmic precision. Meanwhile, salivary glands produce up to 1.5 liters of enzyme-rich saliva daily, essential for digestion. #science #medicalfacts #skeleton #throat #lookingthrough #themoreyaknow #stemeducation #medicalresearch