Dominic Stone
The human face is made up of many muscles, vessels, glands, tissues, and organs. The cheeks are a complex anatomical structure made of muscle fibres, blood vessels, fat cells, minor glands, and other tissues. The face has almost 20 flat skeletal muscles that attach to different places on the skull. These muscles work together to control the parts of our face and are essential to chewing and making facial expressions. The cheeks contain several fat pads called buccal fat pads that lie close to the skin, mainly on the outer surface of the buccinator muscle. The buccinator muscle is the primary muscle that supports the food bolus in the mouth during chewing and swallowing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the human face | Almost 20 flat skeletal muscles |
| Cheek muscles | Buccinator, Masseter |
| Functions of cheek muscles | Participate in facial expressions, chewing, talking, digestion |
| Blood supply to cheek muscles | Facial nerve (CN VII) |
| Nerve supply to cheek muscles | Buccal branch of the facial nerve (CN VII), Mandibular nerve (CN V3), Maxillary nerve (CN V2) |
| Cheek muscle injuries | Facial trauma, stroke, Bell's palsy |
| Other structures in the cheeks | Fat pads, blood vessels, minor glands, other tissues |
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What You'll Learn
- The buccinator muscle is the primary muscle in the cheeks
- Facial muscles control facial expressions and chewing
- The cheeks are prone to dermatological diseases and malignancies
- The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to the cheeks
- Facial muscles have a unique microarchitecture compared to other skeletal muscles
The buccinator muscle is the primary muscle in the cheeks
The buccinator muscle is responsible for several functions. Firstly, it compresses the cheeks against the molar teeth, which helps to keep food centralised in the oral cavity and prevents the cheeks from being bitten during mastication or chewing. This function is particularly important for playing wind instruments, as the buccinator muscle is used to expel air from the cheeks. It also assists the tongue in keeping the food bolus centralised in the mouth.
The buccinator muscle is also involved in various facial expressions, such as whistling, blowing kisses, or sucking on a lemon. It is not typically considered an expressive muscle, as many other muscles overlay and intertwine with it. However, it can contribute to the appearance of wrinkles and sunken cheeks if not properly treated.
The buccinator muscle has multiple origin points, which serve as the basis for subdividing the muscle fibres into superior, inferior, and posterior parts. It is innervated by the buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) and receives arterial blood supply primarily from the buccal artery, a branch of the maxillary artery.
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Facial muscles control facial expressions and chewing
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, also called craniofacial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles work together to control the parts of the face. They originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and insert into the skin.
Facial expressions are generated via the precise contraction of facial muscles, guided by sensory feedback. Facial expressions are a critical form of non-verbal social communication that promotes emotional exchange and affiliation among humans. Facial expressions include smiling, pouting, grinning, frowning, and raising eyebrows in surprise. The buccinator muscle, for example, is a thin muscle in the cheek that holds each cheek toward the teeth. It is composed of three parts: superior, inferior, and posterior. The zygomaticus major and minor muscles allow us to smile. The orbicularis oris muscle produces movements of the lips and helps in producing various facial expressions.
The muscles of mastication (chewing) are a group of muscles responsible for the chewing movement of the mandible at the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint. They enhance the process of eating and assist in grinding food. The four main muscles of mastication are the masseter, lateral pterygoid, medial pterygoid, and temporalis. The masseter muscle is a fan-shaped muscle that runs from each cheek to each side of the jaw and helps the jaw to close. The buccinator muscle, which forms the muscular basis of the cheek, also helps in mastication by keeping food pushed back within the oral cavity.
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The cheeks are prone to dermatological diseases and malignancies
The human face is composed of many muscles, vessels, glands, tissues, and organs. The cheeks are a complex anatomical structure made up of muscle fibres, blood vessels, fat cells, minor glands, and other tissues. They are essential for chewing, talking, and creating facial expressions.
In addition to rashes, the cheeks can exhibit blushing, which is a common variation in cheek appearance across individuals. The size and contours of the cheeks vary greatly, and these variations give each person their unique facial features. The amount of adipose tissue in the fat pads of the cheeks differs from person to person due to genetics and lifestyle factors.
The fat content of the cheeks can also be indicative of overall health. Patients with cancer, HIV, or starvation will present with significantly reduced fat in the cheeks. This loss of cheek fullness can be a sign of underlying disease or malnutrition.
Furthermore, the buccal nerve, which supplies nerve endings to the cheeks, is crucial in facial surgery. If damaged during surgery, it can result in facial nerve damage and unsuccessful surgery.
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The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to the cheeks
The human face is composed of many muscles, vessels, glands, tissues, and organs. One of the most distinct features of the human face is the cheeks. The cheeks are the region below the eyes but above the jawline, spanning between the nose and the ears.
The cheeks are made up of many muscles, fat pads, glands, and tissues. This complex composition allows the cheeks to participate in eating, talking, and facial expression. The main mass or the base of the cheeks is mainly formed by the buccinator muscle fibres covered by the buccopharyngeal fascia. The buccinator is a thin muscle in the cheek that holds each cheek toward the teeth.
The buccal nerve is a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). It is the only sensory branch of the anterior division. After branching from the anterior trunk of the mandibular nerve, the buccal nerve passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath the tendon of the temporalis muscle. It then passes anterior to the ramus of the mandible to first course deep to the masseter muscle, and finally anteroinferiorly upon the surface of the buccinator muscle before piercing this muscle. It connects with the buccal branches of the facial nerve on the surface of the buccinator muscle.
The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the cheek, the buccal mucosa, buccal periodontium, and gingiva of mandibular/lower molar and second premolar teeth (until the mental foramen). The buccal nerve is also involved in the perception of taste in the tongue.
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Facial muscles have a unique microarchitecture compared to other skeletal muscles
The human face is made up of many muscles, vessels, glands, tissues, and organs. The cheeks are a distinct feature of the human face and are described as the region below the eyes but above the jawline. The cheeks are made up of many muscles, fat pads, and tissues. This complex composition allows the cheeks to participate in eating, talking, and
Facial muscles differ from other skeletal muscles in their innervation pattern, location of motor bands, and arrangement of MEPs. These differences can be attributed to the elaborate branching pattern of the facial nerve. The facial nerve divides into multiple branches within the parotid gland before entering the facial muscles. Each facial muscle is innervated by multiple terminal branches of the facial nerve without an accompanying vascular pedicle.
Facial muscles are also unique because they originate from bones and insert into the dermis, manipulating the skin and soft tissues. In contrast, other skeletal muscles move the bones. Facial muscles have a higher fast-twitch fiber concentration and fewer mitochondria than other muscles. The orbicularis oculi and zygomaticus major are the fastest-moving muscles in the human body.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the human face has almost 20 flat skeletal muscles that attach to different places on the skull. The cheeks are made up of many muscles, fat pads, blood vessels, glands, and tissues.
The main muscle in the cheeks is the buccinator muscle. Other muscles in the cheek region include the masseter muscle, orbicularis oris muscle, risorius muscle, and zygomaticus major muscle.
The cheek muscles are involved in chewing, swallowing, whistling, and playing wind instruments. They also participate in facial expressions and contribute to the shape of the face.
Damage to the cheek muscles can result in facial weakness or paralysis. This may be a sign of a temporary condition like Bell's palsy or a more serious issue such as a stroke, tumour, or infection. It is important to seek medical attention for any facial weakness or paralysis.
