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Buccinator muscle

The Buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral facial muscle located in the cheek, deep to the skin and superficial to the buccal mucosa. It forms the muscular component of the cheek and plays a crucial role in mastication by pressing the cheek against the teeth. The muscle originates from the outer surfaces of the alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible, as well as the pterygomandibular raphe, and inserts into the fibers of the orbicularis oris muscle. The buccinator is vital in facilitating actions such as blowing, sucking, and chewing, and is innervated by the facial nerve.

Synonyms

  • Musculus buccinator

  • Buccal muscle

  • Cheek muscle

Function

  • Compresses the cheek against the teeth and gums

  • Aids in mastication by keeping food between the teeth during chewing

  • Assists in blowing, sucking, and whistling

  • Prevents accumulation of food in the vestibule of the mouth

Nerve Supply

  • Motor innervation: Buccal branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)

  • Sensory innervation (overlying skin and mucosa): Buccal nerve (branch of the mandibular nerve, CN V3)

Artery Supply

  • Buccal branch of the maxillary artery

  • Facial artery

Vein Supply

  • Buccal vein (drains into the facial vein)

  • Tributaries of the pterygoid venous plexus

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted images:

    • The buccinator muscle appears as intermediate (isointense) signal intensity relative to other facial muscles

  • T2-weighted images:

    • The muscle shows  low to intermediate signal

  • STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

    • The buccinator muscle displays a low to intermediate signal, but pathology (edema, inflammation) may increase signal intensity

CT Appearance

  • Appears as a soft-tissue density structure in the lateral wall of the oral cavity

  • Well-demarcated from adjacent buccal fat pad and maxillary/mandibular bone

MRI images

Buccinator muscle axial image

MRI images

Buccinator muscle coronal mri image

CT image

Buccinator muscle CT CORONAL