Buccinator

Looks like

A thin flat muscle forming the wall of each cheek, between the upper and lower jaw.

What it does

Keeps food between the teeth and pushes air out when blowing.

Keeping it well

Weakness from facial palsy makes food collect in the cheek; cheek biting injures its lining.

Related conditions

• Bell's palsy
• Botulism
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tension-type headache
• Tetanus