Buccal branches of the facial nerve

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Buccal branches of the facial nerve
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Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Labeled at center bottom, third from the bottom.)
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The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.
Details
From Facial nerve
Innervates Cheek
Identifiers
Latin rami buccales nervi facialis
TA98 A14.2.01.111
TA2 6304
FMA 53310
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The buccal branches of the facial nerve (infraorbital branches), are of larger size than the rest of the branches, pass horizontally forward to be distributed below the orbit and around the mouth.

Contents

Branches

The superficial branches run beneath the skin and above the superficial muscles of the face, which they supply: some are distributed to the procerus, joining at the medial angle of the orbit with the infratrochlear and nasociliary branches of the ophthalmic.

The deep branches pass beneath the zygomaticus and the quadratus labii superioris, supplying them and forming an infraorbital plexus with the infraorbital branch of the maxillary nerve. These branches also supply the small muscles of the nose.

The lower deep branches supply the buccinator and orbicularis oris, and join with filaments of the buccinator branch of the mandibular nerve.

Muscles of facial expression

The facial nerve innervates the muscles of facial expression. The buccal branch supplies these muscles

MuscleAction
Risorius Smirk
Buccinator Aids chewing by holding cheeks flat
Levator labii superioris Elevates upper lip
Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle Snarl
Levator anguli oris Soft smile
Nasalis Flare nostrils
Orbicularis oris muscle Purse Lips
Depressor septi nasi Depresses nasal septum
Procerus Moves skin of forehead

Testing the nerve

• Puff up cheeks (buccinator)

i. Tap with finger over each cheek to detect ease of air expulsion on the affected side

• Smile and show teeth (orbicularis oris)

See also

Additional images

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandibular nerve</span> Branch of the trigeminal nerve responsible for the lower face and jaw

In neuroanatomy, the mandibular nerve (V3) is the largest of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth cranial nerve (CN V). Unlike the other divisions of the trigeminal nerve (ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve) which contain only afferent fibers, the mandibular nerve contains both afferent and efferent fibers. These nerve fibers innervate structures of the lower jaw and face, such as the tongue, lower lip, and chin. The mandibular nerve also innervates the muscles of mastication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buccinator muscle</span> Muscle

The buccinator is a thin quadrilateral muscle occupying the interval between the maxilla and the mandible at the side of the face. It forms the anterior part of the cheek or the lateral wall of the oral cavity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orbicularis oris muscle</span> Kissing muscles

In human anatomy, the orbicularis oris muscle is a complex of muscles in the lips that encircles the mouth. It is not a true sphincter, as was once thought, as it is actually composed of four independent quadrants that interlace and give only an appearance of circularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auriculotemporal nerve</span> Branch of the mandibular nerve

The auriculotemporal nerve is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3) that runs with the superficial temporal artery and vein, and provides sensory innervation to parts of the external ear, scalp, and temporomandibular joint. The nerve also conveys post-ganglionic parasympathetic fibres from the otic ganglion to the parotid gland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zygomaticus major muscle</span> Facial muscle that raises the corner of the mouth and moves it posteriorly during smiling

The zygomaticus major muscle is a muscle of the face. It arises from either zygomatic arch (cheekbone); it inserts at the corner of the mouth. It is innervated by branches of the facial nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial artery</span> Blood vessel supplying blood to the superficial face

The facial artery is a branch of the external carotid artery that supplies structures of the superficial face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buccal nerve</span> Nerve in the human face

The buccal nerve is a sensory nerve of the face arising from the mandibular nerve. It conveys sensory information from the skin of the cheek, and parts of the oral mucosa, periodontium, and gingiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasociliary nerve</span> Branch of the ophthalmic nerve

The nasociliary nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) (which is in turn a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). It is intermediate in size between the other two branches of the ophthalmic nerve, the frontal nerve and lacrimal nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buccal artery</span>

The buccal artery is a small artery in the head. It branches off the second part of the maxillary artery and supplies the cheek and buccinator muscle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transverse facial artery</span>

The transverse facial artery is an artery that branches from the superficial temporal artery and runs across the face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxillary artery</span> Artery supplying face structures in humans

The maxillary artery supplies deep structures of the face. It branches from the external carotid artery just deep to the neck of the mandible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infraorbital artery</span>

The infraorbital artery is a small artery in the head that arises from the maxillary artery and passes through the inferior orbital fissure to enter the orbit, then passes forward along the floor of the orbit, finally exiting the orbit through the infraorbital foramen to reach the face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve</span>

The marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve arises from the facial nerve in the parotid gland at the parotid plexus. It passes anterior-ward deep to the platysma and depressor anguli oris muscles. It provides motor innervation to muscles of the lower lip and chin: the depressor labii inferioris muscle, depressor anguli oris muscle, and mentalis muscle. It communicates with the mental branch of the inferior alveolar nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temporal branches of the facial nerve</span>

The temporal branches of the facial nerve crosses the zygomatic arch to the temporal region, supplying the auriculares anterior and superior, and joining with the zygomaticotemporal branch of the maxillary nerve, and with the auriculotemporal branch of the mandibular nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zygomatic branches of the facial nerve</span> Nerves of the face

The zygomatic branches of the facial nerve (malar branches) are nerves of the face. They run across the zygomatic bone to the lateral angle of the orbit. Here, they supply the orbicularis oculi muscle, and join with filaments from the lacrimal nerve and the zygomaticofacial branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cervical branch of the facial nerve</span> Branch of the facial nerve in the neck

The cervical branch of the facial nerve is a nerve in the neck. It is a branch of the facial nerve (VII). It supplies the platysma muscle, among other functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buccal space</span>

The buccal space is a fascial space of the head and neck. It is a potential space in the cheek, and is paired on each side. The buccal space is superficial to the buccinator muscle and deep to the platysma muscle and the skin. The buccal space is part of the subcutaneous space, which is continuous from head to toe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial muscles</span> Muscles of the face

The facial muscles are a group of striated skeletal muscles supplied by the facial nerve that, among other things, control facial expression. These muscles are also called mimetic muscles. They are only found in mammals, although they derive from neural crest cells found in all vertebrates. They are the only muscles that attach to the dermis.

Lip reconstruction may be required after trauma or surgical excision. The lips are considered the beginning of the oral cavity and are the most common site of oral cancer. Any reconstruction of the lips must include both functional and cosmetic considerations. The lips are necessary for speech, facial expression, and eating. Because of their prominent location on the face, even small abnormalities can be apparent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buccal fat pad</span> Organ of the face

The buccal fat pad is one of several encapsulated fat masses in the cheek. It is a deep fat pad located on either side of the face between the buccinator muscle and several more superficial muscles. The inferior portion of the buccal fat pad is contained within the buccal space. It should not be confused with the malar fat pad, which is directly below the skin of the cheek. It should also not be confused with jowl fat pads. It is implicated in the formation of hollow cheeks and the nasolabial fold, but not in the formation of jowls.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 905 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)