Which nerve supplies the motor to the anterior belly of the digastric?

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Motor to the anterior belly of the digastric comes from the nerve to mylohyoid, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. This nerve arises from the inferior alveolar nerve before it enters the mandible and then travels to the digastric muscle to supply the anterior belly. The mandibular division carries motor fibers to many muscles of mastication and to some suprahyoid muscles, which is why this muscle segment is innervated by V3. The posterior belly, in contrast, receives its motor supply from the facial nerve, which is why that nerve is not the correct choice for the anterior belly. The ophthalmic division (V1) is purely sensory and does not innervate this muscle, and the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) also does not supply the digastric.