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Anterior belly of the digastricus
Muscle parts
Anterior belly; Posterior belly
Latin name
Musculus digastricus
Latin muscle parts
Venter anterior; Venter posterior
Group
Branchial arch muscle – first arch – anterior belly (Suprahyoid muscle)Branchial arch muscle – second arch – posterior belly (Suprahyoid muscle)
Etymology
The English name of this muscle is the muscle with double bellies. Digastricus arises from a conjunction of the Greek dis meaning “double, or twice,” and gaster, which means “belly or stomach.”
Origin
Mastoid notch of the temporal bone
Insertion
Digastric fossa of the mandible
Action
Depresses the mandible and elevates hyoid bone while pulling it posteriorly; active during swallowing
Nerve supply
Anterior belly - Trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) and posterior belly - facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)
Blood supply
Posterior belly is supplied by the occipital artery; anterior belly is supplied by the submental branch of the facial artery and the mylohyoid branch of the inferior alveolar artery.