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 (2024)
Fig 1 – The main oral muscles of facial expression. Note how the fibres of buccinator and orbicularis oris blend together