Muscle
Digastric
Two-bellied suprahyoid muscle
High-yield
Two bellies, two nerves — anterior belly by CN V3 (mylohyoid nerve), posterior belly by CN VII.
Overview
A suprahyoid muscle with anterior and posterior bellies (from different pharyngeal arches) that elevates the hyoid and depresses the mandible.
Reference facts
- Origin
Anterior belly: digastric fossa of the mandible. Posterior belly: mastoid notch of the temporal bone
- Insertion
Intermediate tendon to the hyoid bone (via a fibrous sling)
- Action
Elevates the hyoid bone; depresses and retracts the mandible (opens the jaw)
- Innervation
Anterior belly: mylohyoid nerve (CN V3). Posterior belly: facial nerve (CN VII)
- Blood supply
Facial / lingual / occipital arteries