ˌhīōˈbraŋkēəm noun
( plural hyobran·chia -ēə)
Etymology: New Latin, from hy- + -branchium (from Greek branchion gill) — more at branchia
: a typically somewhat Y-shaped bone that serves to support the tongue and tongue muscles in a snake and is considered to result from fusion of the hyoid and remnants of the branchial arches