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Dictionary Language resources

digastric

Pronunciation: /dʌɪˈgastrɪk/

(also digastric muscle)

Definition of digastric

noun

Anatomy

each of a pair of muscles which run under the jaw and act to open it.

Origin:

late 17th century: from modern Latin digastricus, from di- 'twice' + Greek gastēr 'belly' (because the muscle has two fleshy parts or ‘bellies’ at an angle, connected by a tendon)