Veterinary Splanchnology and Applied Anotomy

Cheeks (Buccae)

CHEEKS 
(Ox, Sheep & Goat, Horse,Pig, Dog, Rabbit, Fowl)

Ox

• The cheeks form the lateral wall of the mouth cavity and are continuous with the lips in front
• They are attached to the alveolar borders of the maxilla and premaxilla above and mandible below
• The cheeks consist of from without inwards as,
  • Skin
  • Muscular and glandular layer
  • Mucous membrane
• The skin of the face continuous over the cheek without any modification
• The muscular layer chiefly made up of buccinator muscle. The buccal glands are well developed and arranged in three rows
• The dorsal row extends from the angle of the mouth to the maxillary tuberosity and is made up of light yellow lobules. The ventral row consists of compact brownish masses, which extend from the angle of the mouth a short distance under the masseter muscle
• The middle row consists of scattered yellow lobules situated on the deep face of the buccinator muscle
• The ducts of these glands open into the mouth between the papillae of the cheek
• The mucous membrane is reflected upon the gums and is continuous behind with that of the soft palate
• It presents large, pointed conical horny papillae, which are directed backwards towards the isthmus faucium and are covered with horny epithelium
• The largest of these measure about half an inch and are placed around the angle of the mouth
• A large papilla the papilla salivalis is seen about the level of the upper fifth cheek tooth and it shows on its summit the opening of the Stenson’s duct (duct of the parotid salivary gland)

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Species difference

Sheep and Goat

• Resemble ox

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Horse

• Cheeks are less capacious.
• Buccal glands are arranged in two rows - a dorsal row on the outer face of the buccinator muscle near its upper border and a ventral row in the submucous tissue at the lower border of the buccinator muscle
• Papilla salivalis is about the upper third cheek tooth
• Mucous membrane may be pigmented
• Horny papillae are absent

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Pig

• The mucous membrane of the cheeks is smooth
• The buccal glands are compactly arranged in two rows opposite to the cheek teeth
• The parotid duct opens opposite to the 4 or 5 th cheek tooth

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Dog

• Loose and capacious
• Papilla salivalis is about the upper third cheek tooth
• Near the last cheek tooth are the openings of the ducts of the Zygomatic gland (homologous with dorsal buccal glands of other animals)
• Ventral buccal glands are opposite the level of the cheek teeth
• Mucous membrane may be pigmented and smooth
  Horny papillae are absent

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Rabbit

• The cheek is covered with fine hairs

Fowl

• Cheeks are absent

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