Cheek Region

Description

Centered on the malar prominence, the highlighted cheek region overlies the zygomatic bone laterally and the anterior maxilla medially, with the buccal soft tissues tapering inferiorly toward the angle of the mouth. The blue bilateral patches map to the surface projection of the maxillary sinus within the body of the maxilla, positioned inferior to the orbit and medial to the zygomaticomaxillary buttress. Superficially, this area is defined by subcutaneous fat pads and the muscles of facial expression, including zygomaticus major and minor coursing inferomedially toward the oral commissure, and the buccinator forming the muscular wall of the cheek deep to the buccal fat. The course of the infraorbital foramen lies superior to the patch, a key landmark for the infraorbital nerve (V2) and vessels. Surface localization of the maxillary sinus matters in everyday clinical work because anterior cheek tenderness, dental pain referral, and infraorbital paresthesia often converge in this zone during acute maxillary sinusitis or odontogenic sinus disease. A clear appreciation of the malar and buccal anatomy also supports safe local anesthesia, since an infraorbital nerve block is placed just inferior to the infraorbital rim and can be complicated by intravascular injection or hematoma if the facial vessels are not respected. Surgical corridors such as the canine fossa approach (including variants of Caldwell-Luc) and endoscopic maxillary antrostomy planning rely on these relationships. Pain here is not always dental. Use this render for teaching surface anatomy of the midface in head and neck anatomy courses, for patient-facing education on sinus location and facial pain patterns, or for editorial illustration in ENT, dentistry, and maxillofacial surgery publications discussing maxillary sinusitis, sinus lift procedures, or infraorbital nerve block technique. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.