The buccinator is an oral muscle of facial expression. It is located between the mandible and maxilla, deep to the other muscles of the face. Attachments – Originates from the maxilla and mandible. The fibres run in an inferomedial direction, blending with the orbicularis oris muscle and the skin of the lips. Actions – Pulls the cheek inwards against the teeth, preventing accumulation of food in that area. Innervation – Buccal branches of the facial nerve. Blood Supply – Buccal artery (branch of the maxillary artery) By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025) Fig 1The main oral muscles of facial expression. Note how the fibres of buccinator and orbicularis oris blend together Pro Feature - 3D Model You've Discovered a Pro Feature Access our 3D Model Library Explore, cut, dissect, annotate and manipulate our 3D models to visualise anatomy in a dynamic, interactive way. Learn More Print Article Rate This Article