Muscles / Head & neck
Digastric
- Head & neck
- Neck
- Intermediate layer
Anatomy
- Origin
- Anterior belly: digastric fossa of the mandible; posterior belly: mastoid notch of the temporal bone
- Insertion
- Intermediate tendon, held to the body and greater horn of the hyoid by a fibrous sling
- Nerve
- Anterior belly: nerve to mylohyoid (CN V3); posterior belly: facial nerve (CN VII)
Actions
- Depresses the mandible against resistance
- Elevates and steadies the hyoid during swallowing and speech
Parts
Notes
- Dual innervation reflects its origin from two pharyngeal arches.
References (4)
- Standring S, ed. Elsevier. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed.
- Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Wolters Kluwer. Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 9th ed.
- Neumann DA. Elsevier. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed.
- Betts JG, Young KA, Wise JA, et al. OpenStax (free, openly licensed textbook). Anatomy and Physiology 2e