Digastric (Musculus digastricus)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
Two bellies joined by a pulley tendon on the hyoid: posterior from the mastoid notch, anterior from the mandibular digastric fossa; they raise the hyoid in swallowing and open the mouth.
Origin & insertion
Mastoid notch of temporal bone (posterior belly) and mandibular digastric fossa (anterior belly).
Action
Raises the hyoid and tongue in swallowing and opens the mouth against the elevator muscles.
Innervation
Anterior belly from trigeminal nerve (V3), posterior from facial nerve (VII).
Clinical notes
Mandibular fracture can detach the anterior belly opening the bite anteriorly; posterior-belly pain in submandibular inflammation mimics gland swelling.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Digastric?
Two bellies joined by a pulley tendon on the hyoid: posterior from the mastoid notch, anterior from the mandibular digastric fossa; they raise the hyoid in swallowing and open the mouth.
Why is the Digastric clinically important?
Mandibular fracture can detach the anterior belly opening the bite anteriorly; posterior-belly pain in submandibular inflammation mimics gland swelling.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details