GROSS ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -The digastric muscle (also digastricus) (named digastric as it has two ‘bellies’) is a small muscle located under the jaw. The term “digastric muscle” refers to this specific muscle. However, other muscles that have two separate muscle bellies include the suspensory muscle of duodenum, omohyoid, occipitofrontalis.

Detailed explanation-2: -The digastric muscle consists of the anterior belly and the posterior belly connecting the mandible, hyoid bone and temporal bone.

Detailed explanation-3: -The anterior belly of the digastric is one of the three suprahyoid muscles which stabilizes the hyoid during swallowing, an action critical in protecting the airway while eating. Furthermore, the digastrics work to depress the mandible for jaw opening, chewing, and speech.

Detailed explanation-4: -A characteristic feature of the digastric muscle is that its bellies have different embryologic origins, and hence different innervations.