Cheek

This article is about the anatomical feature. For other uses, see Cheek (disambiguation).

Cheek
Girl with prominent (puffy) cheeks.
Latin	bucca
Artery	buccal artery
Nerve	buccal nerve, buccal branch of the facial nerve
MeSH	Cheek

Cheeks (Latin: buccae) constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. They may also be referred to as jowls. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve. The area between the inside of the cheek and the teeth and gums is called the buccal pouch or buccal cavity and forms part of the mouth.

Cheeks are fleshy in humans^[1] and other mammals, the skin being suspended by the chin and the jaws, and forming the lateral wall of the human mouth, visibly touching the cheekbone below the eye. Some animals such as squirrels and hamsters use the buccal pouch to carry food or other items.

In vertebrates, markings on the cheek area (malar stripes/spots/...), particularly immediately beneath the eye, often serve as important distinguishing features between species or individuals.

The inside of the cheek is lined with a mucous membrane (buccal mucosa, part of the oral mucosa). It is the most common location from which a DNA sample can be taken (during a cheek swab).

The cheeks are covered externally by hairy skin, and internally by stratified squamous epithelium. This is mostly smooth, but may have aborally directed papillae (e.g.: ruminants). The mucosa is supplied with secretions from the Buccal glands, which are arranged in superior and inferior groups. In carnivores, the superior buccal gland is large and discrete: the Zygomatic gland. During mastication (chewing), the cheeks and tongue between them serve to keep the food between the teeth.

See also

• Blushing
• Cheek augmentation
• Erythema infectiosum
• Tongue-in-cheek
• Zygomatic bone
• Cheek kissing

References

1. ^ "cheek" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary

This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Head and neck Facial features Anatomy stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Kauno Autobusų Gamykla Kim Sun-il Look at other dictionaries: Cheek'd — Cheek’d is a dating and social networking website based in New York City. It was founded in 2010 by Lori Cheek. Each Cheek d card includes a quip , web address, and online code. To be a part of the cheek d network you can sign up through the… …   Wikipedia Cheek — (ch[=e]k), n. [OE. cheke, cheoke, AS. ce[ a]ce, ce[ o]ce; cf. Goth. kukjan to kiss, D. kaak cheek; perh. akin to E. chew, jaw.] 1. The side of the face below the eye. [1913 Webster] 2. The cheek bone. [Obs.] Caucer. [1913 Webster] 3. pl. (Mech.)… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Cheek — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Chris Cheek (* 1968), US amerikanischer Jazz Saxofonist James Richard Cheek, US amerikanischer Diplomat Joey Cheek (* 1979), US amerikanischer Eisschnellläufer Tom Cheek (1939–2005), US amerikanischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia cheek — (n.) O.E. ceace, cece jaw, jawbone, also the fleshy wall of the mouth. Perhaps from the root of O.E. ceowan chew (see CHEW (Cf. chew)), or from P.Gmc. *kaukon (Cf. M.L.G. kake jaw, jawbone, M.Du. kake jaw, Du. kaak) …   Etymology dictionary cheek — cheek; cheek·er; cheek·i·ly; cheek·i·ness; cheek·less; …   English syllables cheek — ► NOUN 1) either side of the face below the eye. 2) either of the buttocks. 3) impertinence; audacity. ► VERB ▪ speak impertinently to. ● cheek by jowl Cf. ↑cheek by jowl …   English terms dictionary cheek´i|ly — cheek|y «CHEE kee», adjective, cheek|i|er, cheek|i|est. 1. Informal. saucy; impudent; audacious: »A gentleman as rich as Croesus …   Useful english dictionary cheek|y — «CHEE kee», adjective, cheek|i|er, cheek|i|est. 1. Informal. saucy; impudent; audacious: »A gentleman as rich as Croesus …   Useful english dictionary Cheek — (ch[=e]k), v. t. To be impudent or saucy to. [Slang.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English cheek — [n1] side of human face chop*, choppers*, gill, jowl; concept 418 cheek [n2] audacity, boldness brashness, brass*, brazenness, chutzpah*, confidence, disrespect, effrontery, gall, impertinence, impudence, insolence, lip*, nerve*, presumption,… …   New thesaurus cheek — [chēk] n. [ME cheke < OE ceoke, jaw, jawbone; akin to Du kaak, LowG kâke, jaw (only WGmc)] 1. either side of the face between the nose and ear, below the eye 2. either of two sides of a thing, as the sides of a door jamb or the jaws of a vise… …   English World dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”