Washington Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Which part of the body does the buccal nerve primarily affect?

1. The muscles of the mouth

2. The scalp and neck

3. The eyebrow

4. The fingers

The correct answer is: The muscles of the mouth

The buccal nerve primarily affects the muscles of the mouth as it is responsible for innervating the buccinator muscle and providing sensation to the skin of the cheek and the mucous membrane lining the mouth. This nerve plays a critical role in movements related to chewing and facial expressions, emphasizing its importance in functions that involve the mouth. Understanding the relevant anatomy is key in recognizing how nerves correlate with specific functions in the body, and in this case, the buccal nerve's association with the muscles around the oral cavity stands out. The other options relate to regions that are innervated by different nerves: various muscles of the scalp and neck involve other cranial nerves; the eyebrow is influenced by the frontal nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve; and the fingers are primarily affected by the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Each of these serves different parts of the body, underscoring the specialized functions of the buccal nerve in the context of oral and facial movements.