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The buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral muscle that forms the anterior part of the cheek. It is responsible for compressing the cheeks and expelling air between the lips, such as when blowing a trumpet. The buccinator is located deep within the facial muscles and is overlaid by several muscles, including the risorius, orbicularis oris, masseter, and platysma neck muscles. These muscles obscure the buccinator and contribute to various facial expressions and functions, such as grinning, chewing, and sucking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle structure | Thin, quadrilateral, square |
| Muscle function | Compresses cheeks, expels air between the lips, mastication, articulation, deglutition, sucking, blowing, swallowing |
| Muscle origin | Mandible, maxilla's alveolar process, mandible's alveolar part, pterygomandibular raphe |
| Muscle insertion | Orbicularis oris, angle of the mouth (modiolus) |
| Muscle position | Deep within the facial muscles, anterior border of the masseter, and more superficial muscles |
| Muscle innervation | Sensory: long buccal nerve, Motor: temporal and cervical divisions of the facial nerve |
| Muscle blood supply | Facial artery, inferior buccal branches, anterior buccal branches, posterosuperior alveolar artery |
| Muscle vein drainage | Pterygoid plexus and internal maxillary vein |
| Muscle overlay | Risorius, orbicularis oris, masseter, platysma neck muscle |
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What You'll Learn
Risorius, orbicularis oris, and masseter muscles
The risorius muscle is a highly variable muscle that is superficial to the masseter muscle, partially overlying it. It ranges in form from one or more slender bundles to a wide (yet thin) fan and may be absent in a significant minority of people. The risorius muscle draws the angle of the mouth lateral-ward and is involved in producing facial expressions like smiles, grins, or laughs. It may be unintentionally affected during botox injections, resulting in unnatural facial expressions. The masseter muscle, from which the risorius muscle originates, is believed to function in the retraction of the mandible and the stabilisation of the mandibular coronoid process. It is one of the four muscles of mastication, alongside the temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid muscles. The masseter muscle can become enlarged in patients who habitually clench or grind their teeth, even in those who constantly chew gum. This condition, known as masseteric hypertrophy, can lead to asymmetry of the face due to unequal enlargement of the muscles.
The orbicularis oris muscle, also known as musculus orbicularis oris, is a complex, multi-layered muscle that attaches to the dermis of the upper and lower lips. It serves as an attachment site for many other facial muscles around the oral region. While it was once considered a sphincter muscle due to its encirclement of the mouth orifice, this theory was later discarded as research revealed that its fibres run in different directions rather than uniformly circularly. The orbicularis oris muscle has a dual function, with its deep fibres acting as a constrictor and contributing to the sphincteric action of the mouth. The superficial fibres of this muscle originate from the muscles of facial expression and divide into upper and lower bundles. The orbicularis oris muscle is crucial in cleft lip reconstruction surgery, as its proper orientation is essential for normal function and the contour of the lip region.
These three muscles, the risorius, orbicularis oris, and masseter, are all involved in facial expressions and oral functions. They work in conjunction with other muscles in the region to facilitate various movements and maintain the structure of the face and oral cavity.
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Zygomaticus major and minor
The buccinator muscle is obscured by the zygomaticus major and minor muscles, which lie superficially to it. The zygomaticus major is a thin, paired facial muscle that extends diagonally from the zygomatic bone to the angle of the mouth. It is innervated by the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) and supplied by the superior labial artery, a branch of the facial artery. As the zygomaticus major contracts, it pulls the angle of the mouth superolaterally, contributing to facial expressions such as smiling.
The zygomaticus minor is also a thin, paired facial muscle, extending horizontally over the cheeks. It originates from the anterior portion of the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone and inserts into the outer part of the upper lip. This muscle elevates and draws the upper lip backward, upward, and outward, contributing to facial expressions such as smiling, smugness, and contempt. The zygomaticus minor is innervated by the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) and receives its vascular supply from the superior labial branch of the facial artery.
Both the zygomaticus major and minor muscles are part of the buccolabial group of facial muscles, which control the shape, posture, and movements of the lips and cheeks. They work together with other muscles in this group, such as the risorius and orbicularis oris, to form the structure and carry out the functions of the cheeks and lips, enabling various facial expressions and speech.
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Levator labii superioris
The levator labii superioris (LLS) muscle, also known as the quadratus labii, is a muscle in the human body that is used for facial expression and mouth and
The LLS fills the bottom of a triangular space bounded laterally by the zygomaticus minor and medially by the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi. The LLS muscle fibres are situated between the lateral extension of the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (LLSAN) and the zygomaticus minor, integrating into the upper lip's muscle mass, the orbicularis oris. Most LLS fibres connect beneath the alar facial crease, with deeper fibres attaching to the lower nasal vestibule's skin. The LLS elevates and everts the upper lip, particularly during smiling, and broadens the nostril by elevating the nasal ala and upper lip, pulling the alar facial crease and skin outward and upward.
The LLS is a direct tractor of the upper lip, which means that it inserts into the lip directly, acting upon it without the use of an intermediary. By contracting, the LLS helps other buccolabial muscles elevate and invert the upper lip, exposing the maxillary teeth and deepening the nasolabial lines. This action is important in several facial expressions, such as smiling, smugness, contempt, and disdain, as well as in oral movements.
The LLS is a part of the buccolabial group of facial muscles, which also includes the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor, levator anguli oris, risorius, depressor labii inferioris, depressor anguli oris, mentalis, orbicularis oris, incisivus superior, and inferior, and buccinator muscles. The buccolabial muscles work together to control the shape, posture, and movements of the lips.
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Medial pterygoid
The buccinator muscle is a thin quadrilateral muscle forming the anterior part of the cheek. It fills the space between the upper and lower jaws, converging at the angle of the mouth. The buccal fat pad covers the outer surface of the deep part of the buccinator, separating it from the masseter and temporalis muscles.
The medial pterygoid muscle is a thick quadrilateral muscle that connects the mandible with the maxilla, sphenoid, and palatine bones. It is located in the infratemporal fossa, lying deep to the masseter and temporalis muscles, and medial to the lateral pterygoid muscle. The medial pterygoid muscle consists of two heads: the superficial and the deep. These two heads have different origins but both insert on the inner surface of the mandible, allowing for a strong pull of this bone.
The deep part of the medial pterygoid muscle forms the bulk of the muscle and arises from the medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone and the pyramidal process of the palatine bone. The smaller, superficial part arises from the maxillary tuberosity and the grooved surface of the pyramidal process of the palatine bone. As these fibres descend posterolaterally, they insert into the triangular impression found on the medial surface of the ramus and angle of the mandible.
The medial pterygoid muscle has several functions, including elevating and protruding the mandible, and assisting in mastication, especially when the maxillary and mandibular teeth are close together. Unilateral contraction of the medial pterygoid muscle causes a slight medial rotation of the mandible, while bilateral contraction elevates and protrudes it.
The medial pterygoid muscle receives vascular supply from the maxillary artery through its pterygoid branches and from the facial artery through its muscular branches. In some cases, it may also receive vascular supply from a direct branch of the external carotid artery. The medial pterygoid nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, provides innervation to the medial pterygoid muscle.
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Temporalis
The temporalis muscle, also known as the temporal muscle, is a fan-shaped convergent muscle on each side of the head. It is one of the four primary muscles involved in mastication (chewing). The temporalis muscle fills the temporal fossa, superior to the zygomatic arch, and covers much of the temporal bone.
The temporalis muscle is involved in both the elevation and retraction of the mandible (closing the mouth). It arises from the temporal fossa and the deep part of the temporal fascia, which is a very broad area of attachment. The muscle passes medial to the zygomatic arch and forms a tendon that inserts onto the coronoid process of the mandible. The muscle is covered by the temporal fascia, also known as the temporal aponeurosis. This fascia is commonly used in tympanoplasty, or the surgical reconstruction of the eardrum.
The temporalis muscle is accessible on the temples and can be seen and felt contracting when the jaw is clenched. It receives its blood supply from the deep temporal arteries, which anastomose with the middle temporal artery. The muscle is supplied by the deep temporal nerves, which are branches of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve.
The temporalis muscle is likely to be involved in jaw pain and headaches. Bruxism, or the habitual grinding of teeth, can lead to overwork of the temporalis muscle, resulting in pain. A myotendinous rupture of the muscle can occur during a seizure due to extreme clenching of the jaw.
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Frequently asked questions
The buccinator muscle is obscured by the risorius, orbicularis oris, masseter, and platysma neck muscles.
The buccinator is a thin, quadrilateral muscle that forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity.
The buccinator muscle compresses the cheeks against the teeth and gums, helping with mastication and preventing the biting of cheeks during chewing. It also helps control airflow through the mouth, which is essential for whistling, sucking, and playing wind instruments.
The term 'buccinator' was coined by Couper and Myot in 1694, relating to blowing a trumpet. The muscle is also referred to as the 'trumpeter's muscle' as it is involved in puffing out the cheeks, similar to when blowing a trumpet.
