The buccinator muscle is the major facial muscle underlying the cheek. It holds the cheek to the teeth and assists with chewing.
Is the buccinator a muscle of mastication?
[1] Couper and Myot coined the term buccinator in the year 1694. [2] This muscle is sometimes referred to as an accessory muscle of mastication due to its role in compressing the cheeks inwards against molars, thus, aiding in chewing and swallowing.
What are the cheek muscles?
Muscles located in the cheek region:
- Orbicularis oculi muscle (lower border)
- Levator labii superioris muscle.
- Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle.
- Risorius muscle.
- Levator anguli oris muscle.
- Zygomaticus major and minor muscles.
- Buccinator muscle.
- Masseter muscle.
