| Nerve: Buccal branch of the facial nerve | |
|---|---|
| Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Labeled at center bottom, third from the bottom.) | |
| The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck. | |
| Latin | rami buccales nervi facialis |
| Gray's | subject #202 905 |
| Innervates | cheek |
| From | facial nerve |
The Buccal Branches of the facial nerve (infraorbital branches), of larger size than the rest of the branches, pass horizontally forward to be distributed below the orbit and around the mouth.
Contents |
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.
The facial nerve innervates the muscles of facial expression. The buccal branch supplies these muscles
| Muscle | Action |
|---|---|
| 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 |
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
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