Buccal nerve (V3): sensation of the cheek
Quick facts
- Definition
- Sensory branch of the mandibular nerve (V3) to the skin and mucosa of the cheek.
- Function
- Sensory: it does not move muscles.
- Common confusion
- The buccal branch of the facial nerve is motor and is a different structure.
- Relevance in HOF
- Avoids confusing sensation (trigeminal) with movement (facial) in cheek complaints.
The buccal nerve (also called the long buccal nerve or buccinator nerve, in older nomenclature) is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve, the third division of the trigeminal nerve (V3, see mandibular nerve). It passes near the buccinator muscle, gives branches to the skin of the cheek and to the inner lining of the cheek, and ends in the region of the buccal gum of the lower molars.
What is its territory?
The sensory area of the buccal nerve includes:
- the skin of part of the cheek;
- the inner lining of the cheek;
- the buccal gum next to the lower molars.
It moves no muscle. It is a sensory nerve, and injury to it causes numbness or tingling, not loss of movement.
What is the difference from the buccal branch of the facial?
This is the most frequent confusion. The names look alike, but the functions are opposite:
| Feature | Buccal nerve (V3) | Buccal branch of the facial nerve |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Trigeminal (V3) | Facial nerve (VII) |
| Type | Sensory | Motor |
| What it does | Gives sensation to the cheek | Moves muscles of the cheek and lip |
| Injury causes | Numbness | Weakness or asymmetry of movement |
When a patient says "my cheek feels strange", the first question is: is it sensation or movement? If it is sensation, think of the trigeminal nerves; if it is movement, think of the facial nerve. Both can coexist, but they have different causes.
Why does it matter in HOF?
The cheek is an area of great aesthetic interest: cheekbone, fold, buccal fat pad and the transition to the corner of the mouth. Procedures in this area deal with vascular and nerve structures, among them the infraorbital nerve, which supplies sensation to the middle region of the face. The buccal nerve is deeper and more posterior, and is rarely affected by usual facial procedures, but knowing the whole picture helps interpret complaints.
If, after a procedure, the patient reports numbness, map the area: does it fit the territory of the infraorbital, mental, buccal or auriculotemporal nerve? This localization helps decide whether it is something transient from swelling or whether it needs investigation.
In Harmy
The Cheekbone marking point simulates filler in the cheek area with the volume in ml entered, seen from the front. The app does not represent nerves. The projection is illustrative, and the professional takes the nerve structures of the cheek into account in the clinic.
Also called: long buccal nerve, buccal nerve of the trigeminal.
Frequently asked questions
Are the buccal nerve and the buccal branch of the facial the same nerve?
No. The buccal nerve (from V3) is sensory. The buccal branch of the facial nerve is motor and supplies muscles of the cheek and lip. They have similar names and different functions.