Which muscles are supplied by the buccal branch of the facial nerve?

The buccal branch of the facial nerve primarily innervates the muscles of facial expression located within the cheek area, specifically the risorius, buccinator, and orbicularis oris.

The risorius muscle aids in the facial expression by drawing the corners of the mouth laterally, contributing to expressions such as smiling. The buccinator, which is an important muscle for chewing, assists in holding food between the teeth during mastication and helps in actions such as blowing and sucking. The orbicularis oris surrounds the mouth and is crucial for controlling movements of the lips, facilitating actions like speaking, kissing, and whistling.

Other muscles mentioned in the incorrect choices do not receive their nerve supply from the buccal branch of the facial nerve. For instance, the masseter and temporalis are muscles of mastication supplied by the trigeminal nerve (V3 branch), while the frontalis and platysma have different innervation routes outside the facial nerve's buccal branch. Similarly, the tongue muscles, which are primarily innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, and the sternocleidomastoid muscle, innervated by the accessory nerve, do not relate to the buccal