BUCCINATOR MUSCLE

 BUCCINATOR MUSCLE

     Buccinator is the muscle of the cheek. 

     This muscle also known as Bulger's muscle and trumpeter's muscle. 

ORIGIN:-

The buccinator muscle arises from four sites:-

     1. Outer surface of the alveolar process of maxilla opposite three molar teeth. 

     2. Fibrous band that extends from pterygoid hamulus to maxillary tuberosity (pterygomaxillary raphae). 

     3. Pterygomandibular raphae, which extends from pterygoid hamulus to the mandible behind the third molar teeth. 

     4. Outer surface of the alveolar process of mandible opposite three molar teeth. 

     After origin, the fibres run towards the mouth and fill the gap between the upper and lower jaws. The fibres are arranged into upper, intermediate and lower groups. 

INSERTION:-

     The buccinator is inserted in a complicated manner into the upper and lower lips. 

     On reaching the angle of the mouth, 

1. Upper fibres pass into upper lip. 

2. Lower fibres pass into the lower lip. 

3. Intermediate fibres decussate and as a result upper fibres of this group pass into lower lip and lower fibres pass into the upper lip. 

ACTIONS:-

1. It flattens the cheek against the gum and teeth, and thus prevents the accumulation of food in the vestibule of month during mastication. 

2. It is responsible for blowing the cheek and expelling the air between the lips from inflated vestibule as in blowing the trumpet (hence, the name trumpeter's muscle) 

INNERVATION:-

     The buccinator is innervated by the buccal branches of facial nerve ( cranial nerve VII). 

BLOOD SUPPLY:-

     The buccinator receives arterial blood supply mainly from the buccal artery, branch of the maxillary artery, and some branches of the facial artery. 

CLINICAL CORRELATION:-

1. PARALYSIS OF BUCCINATOR MUSCLE:-

 If the buccinator muscle is paralyzed, as it occurs in facial palsy, the food accumulates in the vestibule of mouth during mastication and the person cannot blow his cheek.

2.MODIOLUS:-

It is a dense, compact, mobile, fibromuscular mass situated about 1.25  cm lateral to the angle of the mouth. It is formed due to interlacing of fibres of five muscles which converge towards the angle of the mouth. These muscles (modiolar muscles) are: levator anguli oris, zygomaticus major, buccinator, depressor anguli oris and risorius.