Buccinator

Definition

The buccinator is a thin, horizontal facial muscle that forms the wall of the cheek. It plays a crucial role in chewing by pushing the food onto the molars for grinding and helps in blowing air out of the mouth.

Related terms

Masseter: A strong muscle that covers the sides of the jaw and is responsible for moving the lower jaw up and down during chewing.

Orbicularis oris: A complex of muscles in the lips that encircles the mouth opening, enabling actions such as puckering and closing of lips.

Zygomaticus major: A muscle that extends from each cheekbone to the corners of the mouth, lifting the corners upwards and sideways for smiling