Final answer:
The hyoid bone is the only bone that does not articulate directly with other bones and is suspended by ligaments from the styloid process of the temporal bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The only bone in the body that does not articulate with any other bone is the hyoid bone. The hyoid is a small, U-shaped bone in the neck that is suspended from the styloid processes of the temporal bone by ligaments. The temporal bone itself features several important structures including the mastoid process, which is located posterior to the ear canal (external acoustic meatus), and the styloid process, which is a downward-projecting bony process important for the attachment of muscles of the neck and ligaments supporting the hyoid.
The styloid process also serves as an attachment site for the ligaments and muscles that are related to the tongue and pharynx. Specifically, the ligament running from the styloid process to the hyoid helps to maintain the position of the tongue, which lies over the floor of the oral cavity and is divided into symmetrical halves by a medial septum.