Cheek

The cheeks are situated underneath the eyes and lateral to the nose.

Cheeks are covered over by skin, with multiple fat pads underneath.

Superficial skeletal muscles situated in the cheek region include the levator labii superioris alaeque nasii muscle, which helps flare up the nostrils and elevates the upper lip. In addition, levator labi superiroris, zygomaticus minor and major muscles help lift the upper lip. Moreover, levator anguli oris muscle–along with the zygomaticus major–helps in pulling the angle of the mouth laterally and assists in smiling. Further laterally, the buccinator muscle can be found in the buccal region.

The underlying bony framework of the cheek region is formed by the maxilla or the cheek bone. An important paranasal air sinus can be found within the maxilla that presents with pain and tenderness in the cheek region, in case of maxillary sinusitis.

The sensory innervation in the check region is provided by the branches of infraorbital nerve–as it exits the infraorbital foramen–and the zygomaticofacial nerve.