The human digastric muscle: Patterns and variations with clinical and surgical correlations

Symmetrical anatomical variant of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle: clinical implicat

“…An abnormal maturation of the first branchial arch could also explain the attachment between the digastric muscle and the mylohyoid muscle that have the same origin [4,16]. This could also clarify the function of the accessory digastric bellies in supporting the mylohyoid muscle during its physiological functions, such as the mechanic processes of deglutition and mastication.…”

“…De-Ary-Pires et al [4] classified the digastric muscle by counting the numbers of the anterior bellies, for each side separately, "connected to the mandible or mylohyoid muscle ipsi-and/or contralaterally". They included in this classification even the Macalister's muscle or mentohyoid muscle, as "Anterior Belly Type V".…”

Duplicated posterior belly of digastric muscle and absence of omohyoid muscle: a case report and review of literature

“…Meanwhile, we found that the omohyoid muscle of the same side was missing (Figs. 1,2). No other obvious anatomical abnormalities were found on the right side of the neck.…”

“…But the anomalies reported were mostly encountered in anterior belly of digastric muscle. The ones happened in posterior belly of digastric muscle are rarely reported, with only few papers describing about variant digastric muscle that originated from styloid process or inserted to the constrictor muscles of pharynx [2]. Furthermore, the occurrence of duplicated posterior belly of the digastric muscle is very rare.…”

Accessory belly of digastric muscle presenting as a submandibular space mass

“…5,6 Fugimura et al 7 reported 13 cases of variations from 54 cadavers. De-Ary-Pires et al 8 reported 18 cases from 73 cadavers. From a radiological point of view, knowledge of these variations is important as they can be mistaken on CT and MR for a lymph node or a mass in the floor of the mouth.…”