buccae

Bucca is a Latin anatomical term meaning cheek, and buccae is its plural form. In English medical language, buccae commonly refer to the cheek region in humans and other vertebrates, or to the buccal mucosa, the inner lining of the cheek.

Externally, the buccae form the lateral walls of the face, bounded by the zygomatic arch above and the mandible below. Deep to the skin lie subcutaneous tissues, the buccal fat pad in many species, and the buccinator muscle, which helps maintain the cheek’s shape during chewing. The inner surface of the cheek is the buccal mucosa, a mucous membrane that lines the buccal cavity and connects with the labial mucosa near the teeth. The term buccal is also used for the cheek-facing surfaces of teeth, known as the buccal surfaces.

Innervation includes sensory input from the buccal nerve (long buccal nerve), a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3), supplying the cheek mucosa and skin. Motor innervation to the buccinator muscle comes from the facial nerve (CN VII). Functionally, the buccae aid in manipulating food during chewing, contribute to facial expression, and provide a mucosal lining that protects underlying tissues.

Clinical relevance includes the buccal mucosa as a site for pathology, such as lesions or cancers, and its role as a target area for local anesthesia during dental procedures. Surgical considerations may involve the buccal fat pad or buccinator region in facial procedures.

Etymology derives from Latin bucca, cheek, with buccae as the plural; the term remains standard in anatomy and dentistry for describing cheek structures in humans and other animals.