buccale

Buccale is an adjective used in Italian and in medical English to describe structures or regions related to the cheek or the buccal area of the mouth. In anatomy and dentistry, buccale commonly refers to the buccal region, the buccal mucosa, and the buccal surfaces of teeth.

Anatomically, the buccal region is the area of the inner cheek, separated from the oral cavity proper by the buccal vestibule. The buccal mucosa lines the inner cheek and is part of the oral mucosa; it is covered by stratified squamous epithelium and contains minor salivary glands. The term buccal cavity (cavum oris buccale) denotes the space inside the mouth bounded by lips and cheeks anteriorly and the palate and oropharynx posteriorly.

In clinical use, buccal relates to conditions affecting the cheek lining or its surfaces, such as buccal mucosa lesions, frictional keratosis, leukoplakia, or squamous cell carcinoma. In dentistry, the buccal surface of a tooth faces the cheek, and the buccinator muscle forms the muscular wall of the cheek.

Pharmacology and therapeutics note that buccal drug delivery uses absorption through the buccal mucosa, enabling rapid uptake and avoidance of first-pass metabolism. Preparations include buccal tablets, films, and sprays.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin bucca meaning cheek; buccale in Italian corresponds to the English buccal.