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Digastric

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Original Author(s): Max Bidewell
Last updated: January 20, 2023
Revisions: 4

Original Author(s): Max Bidewell
Last updated: January 20, 2023
Revisions: 4

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The digastric muscle is a suprahyoid muscle of the neck. It consist of two muscular bellies which are connected via a tendon.

  • Attachments: 
    • The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa of the mandible.
    • The posterior belly arises from the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
    • The two bellies are connected by an intermediate tendon, which is attached to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling.
  • Actions: Depresses the mandible and elevates the hyoid bone.
  • Innervation:
    • The anterior belly is innervated by the inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (which is derived from the trigeminal nerve, CN V).
    • The posterior belly is innervated by the digastric branch of the facial nerve.
  • Blood Supply: Vertebral artery and the deep descending branch of the occipital artery.

Fig 1 – Lateral view of the neck with three of the suprahyoid muscles highlighted (digastric, mylohyoid and stylohyoid)

Fig 2 – Anterior view of the neck with the suprahyoid muscles highlighted.