What is the function of the digastric muscle? Structure and Function The digastric muscle functions during swallowing, chewing, and speech. The anterior belly of the digastric is one of the three suprahyoid muscles which stabilizes
What is the function of the digastric muscle?
Structure and Function The digastric muscle functions during swallowing, chewing, and speech. 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.
What is unusual about the digastric muscle?
Each of the digastric muscle bellies has a unique point of origin. The posterior belly originates at the medial surface of mastoid notch of temporal bone. From here it travels anteroinferiorly towards the hyoid bone, piercing the stylohyoid muscle before attaching into the intermediate tendon of digastric muscle.
How do you palpate the digastric muscle?
Direct external palpation of posterior digastric is difficult due to the depth of the muscle. The anterior digastric is examined by identifying the lateral margins of the hyoid, and then palpating the inferior surface of the mandible by placing the thumbs on either side of the midline.
What does digastric mean in anatomy?
Medical Definition of digastric muscle : either of a pair of muscles having two bellies separated by a median tendon that extend from the anterior inferior margin of the mandible to the temporal bone and serve to depress the lower jaw and raise the hyoid bone especially during swallowing.
Why does digastric muscle hurt?
Pain or discomfort in the digastric muscle may be related to muscle tears and sprains or injuries due to overuse. Some conditions which may affect the digastric muscle include myopathy, atrophy, infectious myositis, lacerations, contusions or neuromuscular diseases.
Is digastric a muscle of mastication?
Accessory Muscles of Mastication The suprahyoid muscle group is made up of the digastric muscle, mylohyoid muscle, and geniohyoid muscle. They depress the mandible against resistance when infrahyoid muscles fix or depress the hyoid bone.
Why does my digastric muscle hurt?
Can you feel digastric muscle?
The two bellies are joined by an intermediate tendon. Locating your digastric muscle can be tricky, but you may be able to feel the anterior belly contract by placing your finger under your chin and trying to open your mouth against your finger’s gentle resistance.
Why are the muscles under my chin sore?
What causes them? TMDs are caused by muscle tension, often triggered by stress. Clenching or grinding your teeth can tire the jaw muscles, leading to muscle spasms, tissue damage, pain, and sore muscles. A TMD can also start with an injury to the jaw joint or a joint disease like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Why is it called digastric?
This muscle gets its name because it has two separate muscle bellies, an anterior belly and a posterior belly (di means two; gastric means belly). The anterior belly of the digastric muscle originates from the inner front part of the mandible (lower jaw) in an area called the digastric fossa.
Can digastric muscle cause ear pain?
The digastric can also cause a deep ear pain described as being in front of or below the ear that is not caused by an ear infection. Other then pain, another indicator the digastric maybe your culprit is difficulty swallowing.