Digastric branch of facial nerve - Cranial nerves - Facial nerve [VII] - e-Anatomy
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Digastric branch of facial nerve

Ramus digastricus nervi facialis

  • Related terms: Digastric branch

Definition

Digastric branch of facial nerve originates from the facial nerve after it exits from the bony facial canal via the stylomastoid foramen in the base of the skull.

The digastric branch of facial nerve provides special visceral efferent motor innervation to the posterior belly of digastric muscle. These motor neurons originate from the facial motor nucleus in the pons and reach the facial nerve via its motor root.

Additional muscles innervated by the special visceral efferent neurons in the facial nerve include the stapedius, auricular muscles, occipitalis and stylohyoid muscle and the muscles of facial expression.

References

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.

  • Dulak, D. and Naqvi, I.A. Neuroanatomy, Cranial Nerve 7 (Facial) [Updated 2022 Jul 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526119/

  • Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 8: Head and Neck’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 852-853.

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