Complete Buccal Region of the Male Head

Description

Framed between the inferior orbital margin superiorly and the oral fissure inferiorly, the male buccal region spans laterally from the zygomatic arch toward the anterior border of the masseter and medially to the nasolabial fold and oral commissure. The skin and subcutaneous tissues overlie the buccal fat pad, with the buccinator forming the muscular floor of the cheek deep to the facial soft tissues. Traversing this territory, the parotid (Stensen) duct courses anteriorly across the masseter, then turns medially to pierce the buccinator opposite the maxillary second molar, while branches of the facial nerve radiate superficially toward the upper lip and angle of the mouth. The facial artery and vein typically run obliquely toward the commissure, and the infraorbital nerve emerges superiorly to supply the midface. Cheek anatomy is where surface landmarks and deep risks overlap. Stensen duct injury during laceration repair or cosmetic procedures can lead to sialocele or salivary fistula, and this view helps you anticipate the duct’s relationship to the masseter and buccinator before you cut. The same corridor matters in buccal mucosa cancer staging and in the spread of odontogenic infection into the buccal space. Know the planes. Use this artwork for head and neck anatomy teaching, oral and maxillofacial surgery atlases, ENT and plastic surgery preoperative counseling materials, and clinical guides on facial nerve branch avoidance in midface injections and incisions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.