The two-bellied jaw muscle
Digastric · musculus digastricus
A muscle under the jaw with two bellies joined by a tendon that runs through a sling.
What it does
The digastric runs from behind the ear to the inside of the chin, with a tendon in the middle held to the hyoid bone by a loop of tissue. It helps open the jaw and lifts the hyoid bone when you swallow.
Surprising fact
Its two bellies come from different parts of the embryo and are supplied by two different nerves, even though they act as one muscle.
Why it matters
It is a handy surgical landmark in the neck, helping surgeons locate nearby nerves and arteries.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.