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Resource: Dental Care Articles
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Anatomy of the Lips and Cheeks: short overview
The lips and cheeks are covered by three layers; the mucosa, the sub-mucosa, containing different types of salivary glands; and finally, a muscle layer.
The mucosa that covers the lips has a high sensory capacity derived from the mental, buccal and infra-orbital nerves. A number of small muscles are present around the lips and participate actively in facial expression. The lateral walls of the oral cavity, called the cheeks, are formed basically by the buccinators muscles that. In their mid-region, are crossed by the excretory ducts of the parotid glands, at the level of the upper first molar.