Term Name: | buccal fat pad |
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Synonyms: | cheek fat pad |
Definition: | The Buccal fat pad is one of several encapsulated fat masses in the cheek. It is a deep fat pad located on either side of the face between the buccinator muscle and several more superficial muscles. It should not be confused with the malar fat pad, which is directly below the skin of the cheek. It should also not be confused with jowl fat pads. It is implicated in the formation of hollow cheeks and the nasolabial fold, but not in the formation of jowls. |
Ontology: | Uberon Ontology [UBERON:0012167] |