The digastric branch of facial nerve provides motor innervation to the posterior belly of the

digastric muscle The digastric muscle (also digastricus) (named ''digastric'' as it has two 'bellies') is a bilaterally paired suprahyoid muscle located under the jaw. Its posterior belly is attached to the mastoid notch of temporal bone, and its anterior belly ...

. It branches from the facial nerve (CN VII) near to the

stylomastoid foramen The stylomastoid foramen is a foramen between the styloid and mastoid processes of the temporal bone of the skull. It is the termination of the facial canal, and transmits the facial nerve, and stylomastoid artery. Facial nerve inflammation in th ...

as the CN VII exits the

facial canal The facial canal (also known as the Fallopian canal) is a Z-shaped canal in the temporal bone of the skull. It extends between the internal acoustic meatus and stylomastoid foramen. It transmits the facial nerve (CN VII) (after which it is nam ...

(it thus branches proximal to the parotid plexus of facial nerve). It commonly arises in common with the stylohyoid branch of facial nerve.

References

External links

* () * () * http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-5.HTM Facial nerve {{neuroanatomy-stub