
The buccinator muscle, also known as the trumpeter's muscle, is a thin, quadrilateral-shaped oral muscle of facial expression. It is situated in the mobile and adaptable cheek area, between the maxilla and mandible. The buccinator muscle is involved in several functions, including mastication, articulation, and deglutition. It also helps to regulate parotid secretion and contributes to parafunctional movements such as bruxism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Buccinator Muscle, Trumpet Muscle, Trumpeter's Muscle, Muscle of the Cheek, Musculus Buccae, Musculus Buccalis |
| Shape | Square, Quadrilateral |
| Type | Oral Muscle, Facial Muscle |
| Function | Mastication, Swallowing, Blowing, Sucking, Articulation, Deglutition, Preventing Food from Getting Stuck between Inner Cheeks and Teeth, Expelling Air from Inflated Vestibule, Regulating Parotid Secretion, Preventing Cheek Injury |
| Location | Cheek, Between the Maxilla and Mandible, Mobile and Adaptable Cheek Area, Lateral Wall of the Oral Cavity |
| Blood Supply | Buccal Artery, Facial Artery, Posterosuperior Alveolar Artery, Maxillary Artery |
| Innervation | Buccal Nerve, Facial Nerve, Temporal Division, Cervical Division |
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What You'll Learn

The buccinator muscle is located in the cheek
The buccinator muscle, also known as the "trumpeter's muscle", is located in the cheek. It is a thin, quadrilateral-shaped facial muscle that forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity. The buccinator muscle is situated between the maxilla and mandible at the side of the face. It arises from the outer surfaces of the alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible, corresponding to the three pairs of molar teeth.
The buccinator muscle is one of the first muscles activated by sucking during infancy. It contributes to mastication (chewing), articulation, and deglutition (swallowing). During mastication, the buccinator muscle compresses the cheek inward against the molars, preventing the cheeks from being bitten. This also helps to push food towards the tongue and keep it central in the oral cavity.
The buccinator muscle is also involved in parafunctional movements such as bruxism (teeth grinding), finger-sucking, and thumb-sucking. Additionally, it is the main muscle used in playing wind instruments, as it expels air from the inflated cheeks.
The buccinator muscle is derived from the 2nd pharyngeal arch (hyoid arch) and is innervated by the facial nerve. The facial artery supplies the buccinator's posterior, inferior, and anterior parts via its numerous branches. The buccal branch of the maxillary artery also supplies the area.
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It is a thin, quadrilateral-shaped muscle
The buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral-shaped muscle that is the main component of the cheek. It is also known as the 'muscle of the cheek' or the trumpeter's muscle. The buccinator is a muscle of facial expression, derived from the 2nd pharyngeal arch. It is situated in the mobile and adaptable cheek area, occupying the interval between the maxilla and the mandible at the side of the face. The muscle forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity.
The buccinator muscle is one of the facial muscles and is categorically a muscle of facial expression. It is innervated by the facial nerve and supplied by the facial artery. The posterior buccal branch, the largest facial artery segment, supplies the posterior aspect of the muscle. The inferior buccal branches of the facial artery supply the inferior portion of the buccinator. The facial artery then runs anterosuperiorly to give off anterior buccal branches, which supply the anterior aspect of the muscle. The posterosuperior alveolar artery, a branch of the maxillary artery, enters the buccinator muscle posterosuperiorly and supplies the area.
The buccinator muscle has several functions. Firstly, it compresses the cheek inward against the molars, preventing the cheeks from being bitten during chewing. This also helps to keep food boluses central in the oral cavity, preventing them from escaping into the oral vestibule. Secondly, the buccinator is involved in playing wind instruments, as it expels air from the distended cheeks. It is one of the first muscles activated by sucking during infancy. Thirdly, the buccinator contributes to mastication, articulation, and deglutition. It coordinates with the orbicularis oris and superior constrictor muscle during swallowing, mastication, blowing, and sucking.
The buccinator muscle fibres originate from three areas, giving rise to superior, inferior, and posterior parts. The muscle is pierced by the parotid duct on its lateral aspect, opposite the upper third molar tooth. The duct then courses over the muscle's deep surface and opens into the oral cavity near the second upper molar tooth.
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It is involved in mastication, articulation, and deglutition
The buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral facial muscle that is the main component of the cheek. It is involved in mastication (chewing), articulation, and deglutition (swallowing).
During mastication, the buccinator muscle compresses the cheek inward against the molars. This action helps to maintain cheek tension and prevent injury to the buccal mucosa. It also keeps the food bolus (a rounded mass of food) central in the oral cavity, preventing it from escaping into the oral vestibule. In addition, the buccinator prevents the cheeks from being bitten during chewing.
The buccinator muscle also plays a role in articulation, which is the act of speaking or vocalizing. It is one of the first muscles to be activated by sucking during infancy, and it contributes to parafunctional movements, such as bruxism (teeth grinding), finger-sucking, and thumb-sucking. The buccinator is also the main muscle involved in playing wind instruments, as it expels air from the distended cheeks.
Deglutition, or swallowing, occurs in phases. The buccinator muscle coordinates with the orbicularis oris and superior constrictor muscle during this process. It helps to regulate parotid secretion, as it has small fibers inserted in the distal portion of the parotid duct.
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It is derived from the 2nd pharyngeal arch
The buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral muscle that forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity. It is the main component of the cheeks and is responsible for puffing out the cheeks, giving it the nickname "trumpeter's muscle". The buccinator muscle is derived from the second pharyngeal arch (hyoid arch).
Pharyngeal arches are a series of externally visible anterior tissue bands that lie under the early brain. They give rise to the structures of the head and neck. In humans, five arches form (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6), but only four are externally visible on the embryo. The first arch, also known as the mandibular arch, is the first of six pharyngeal arches that develop during the fourth week of embryonic development. The pharyngeal arches are numbered from 1 to 6, with arch 1 being the closest to the head of the embryo. Each arch develops its own artery, nerve that controls a distinct muscle group, and skeletal tissue.
The second pharyngeal arch has its own distinct characteristics. Its associated nerve is the facial nerve (CN VII), which innervates all the muscular derivatives of the arch, including the muscles of facial expression, stapedius, stylohyoid, platysma, and the posterior belly of digastric. The second pharyngeal arch also has two associated arteries: the stapedial artery and the hyoid artery. The stapedial artery connects the embryonic precursors of the internal carotid, internal maxillary, and middle meningeal arteries, but it usually regresses before birth. The hyoid artery, on the other hand, gives rise to the corticotympanic artery in adults.
The buccinator muscle, arising from the second pharyngeal arch, plays a crucial role in mandibular movements, aiding in protrusion and retrusion. It also helps regulate parotid secretion and contributes to functions such as mastication, articulation, and deglutition.
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It is innervated by the facial nerve
The buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral-shaped muscle located in the cheek area of the human face. It is derived from the 2nd pharyngeal arch (hyoid arch) and is innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII). This means that the nerve signals that control the movement and function of the buccinator muscle originate from the facial nerve.
The facial nerve is a cranial nerve that plays a crucial role in facial expression and movement. It is the motor nerve for the muscles of facial expression, including the buccinator muscle. The facial nerve has two main branches: the temporal and cervical divisions. These divisions supply motor innervation to the buccinator muscle, allowing it to contract and relax during various functions.
The buccinator muscle is responsible for several important functions in the human body. Primarily, it aids in mastication (chewing) by compressing the cheek inward against the molars. This action helps to push food towards the tongue and prevents food from getting stuck between the inner cheeks and teeth. Additionally, the buccinator muscle assists in swallowing, blowing, and sucking. It also contributes to parafunctional movements such as bruxism (teeth grinding), finger-sucking, and thumb-sucking.
The buccinator muscle is also involved in the production of facial expressions. It is one of the first muscles activated by sucking during infancy and is a target for cosmetic procedures, such as botulinum toxin treatments, to reduce unwanted involuntary muscle contractions. Furthermore, the buccinator muscle is essential for playing wind instruments, as it helps to expel air from the distended cheeks.
In summary, the buccinator muscle is innervated by the facial nerve, which provides the nerve signals necessary for its function and movement. This muscle plays a crucial role in various facial expressions, mastication, and other oral functions, making it an important component of the human facial musculature.
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Frequently asked questions
The buccinator muscle is located in the cheek area of the human face.
The buccinator muscle's main function is to aid in mastication (chewing) by compressing the cheek inward against the molars and preventing food from getting stuck between the inner cheeks and teeth.
The buccinator muscle is also known as the "muscle of the cheek" or the "trumpeter's muscle" as it is used to puff out the cheeks and expel air, similar to playing a trumpet.











































