Digastric
Neck
Deep muscle — it lies under other muscles. X-ray makes the muscles over it see-through.
- Origin
- Posterior belly: mastoid notch of the temporal bone; anterior belly: inner surface of the mandible near the chin
- Insertion
- Intermediate tendon, held to the hyoid bone by a fibrous loop
- Action
- Raises the hyoid bone; helps open the mouth by lowering the mandible
- Nerve supply
- Nerve to mylohyoid (anterior belly, CN V3) and facial nerve (posterior belly, CN VII)
A two-bellied muscle under the jaw, joined in the middle by a tendon looped to the hyoid. It lifts the hyoid during swallowing and helps open the mouth.
Digastric anatomy page →