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Symmetrical anatomical variant of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle: clinical implicat
open access
Abstract
The digastric muscle is an important surgical landmark. Several anatomical variants of the digastric muscle are reported in literature and, in particular, the presence of accessory anterior bellies of the muscle is not uncommon. Here, an unreported symmetrical variant of the digastric muscle was found during a dissection of the suprahyoid region. The dissection showed digastric muscles with an accessory anterior belly, which originated from the anterior belly of muscles in proximity and anteriorly to the intermediate tendon. The accessory bellies were fused together on the midline and were attached with a unique tendon to the inner surface of the mental symphysis. These muscles completely filled the submental triangle. This unreported anatomical variant could be considered an additional contribution to description of the anatomical variants of the digastric muscle, with several implications in head and neck pathology, diagnosis and surgery.
Abstract
The digastric muscle is an important surgical landmark. Several anatomical variants of the digastric muscle are reported in literature and, in particular, the presence of accessory anterior bellies of the muscle is not uncommon. Here, an unreported symmetrical variant of the digastric muscle was found during a dissection of the suprahyoid region. The dissection showed digastric muscles with an accessory anterior belly, which originated from the anterior belly of muscles in proximity and anteriorly to the intermediate tendon. The accessory bellies were fused together on the midline and were attached with a unique tendon to the inner surface of the mental symphysis. These muscles completely filled the submental triangle. This unreported anatomical variant could be considered an additional contribution to description of the anatomical variants of the digastric muscle, with several implications in head and neck pathology, diagnosis and surgery.
Keywords
anatomical variant, digastric muscle, suprahyoid region, dissection, gross anatomy
About this articleTitle
Symmetrical anatomical variant of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle: clinical implicat
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
112-116
Published online
2015-09-08
Page views
1564
Article views/downloads
1335
DOI
10.5603/FM.a2015.0077
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2016;75(1):112-116.
Keywords
anatomical variant
digastric muscle
suprahyoid region
dissection
gross anatomy
Authors
B. Buffoli
D. Lancini
M. Ferrari
F. Belotti
P. Nicolai
M. Tschabitscher
R. Rezzani
L. F. Rodella
