The buccinator is a thin, flat muscle located in the cheek area of the face. It lies between the skin of the cheek and the deeper muscles of mastication, extending horizontally from the maxilla and mandible to the angle of the mouth. This muscle is primarily responsible for compressing the cheek and aiding in functions such as chewing and blowing.
buccinator muscle
The buccinator muscle, located in the cheeks, contracts to compress the cheeks when air is blown out of the mouth. This muscle helps in actions such as blowing out candles or whistling.
The Buccinator muscles. (The cheeks)
The main component of the cheecks is the buccinator muscle.
The muscle that resides in the cheek is names the buccinator and is innervated by the facial nerve. It is primarily a muscle of facial expression. Its function in mastication (chewing) is to push the food, with the aid of the tongue, to the opposite side of the mouth. It is, however, only able to form part of the inward movement of the cheeks; the rest is caused by negative pressure (semi-vacuum) being created by the action of the inferior tongue muscles pulling the tongue down and back.
THe buccinator
Buccinator
buccinator
Tempromandibular Joint
The buccinator muscle.
The two muscles that lie superficial to the buccinator are the masseter and the risorius. The masseter is a major muscle involved in chewing, located at the back of the jaw, while the risorius is a smaller muscle that contributes to facial expression, particularly in smiling. Together, these muscles play important roles in both mastication and facial movements.
The buccinator muscle is an important muscle in the cheek that plays a role in helping to keep food in contact with the teeth during chewing. In orthodontics, understanding the function of the buccinator muscle is important for managing aspects of orthodontic treatment that may be affected by muscle activity, such as the positioning of braces or functional appliances. Orthodontists may consider the influence of the buccinator muscle on oral function and treatment outcomes when planning a patient's treatment.