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Glite Dictionary
buccal cavity

buccal cavity

6.4
The space inside the mouth between the cheeks and the jaws
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌkəl ˈkævɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cavidad bucal
  • The dentist examined the patient's buccal cavity to check for any signs of infection.

Examples

  • Proper oral hygiene is essential for maintaining health in the buccal cavity.

  • During the procedure, the surgeon accessed the buccal cavity to remove a cyst.

  • Each piece was chewed for 30 minutes by three different male volunteers, and the saliva produced during the process was retained in the buccal cavity.

    Academic text (2008)

  • In both males and females, residential exposure to petroleum and chemical air emissions was associated with an increased incidence of cancer of the buccal cavity and pharynx.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

mouth
vsbuccal cavity
∞ 1.0

An opening in the face where food and sounds go

is the internal space between jaws and cheeks, more specific than the facial opening
oral cavity
vsbuccal cavity
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A space inside your mouth where you put food and make speech sounds

is the inner space between the jaws and cheeks rather than the visible opening

Surface Forms

buccal cavity singular
buccal cavities plural

Morphology

buccal + cavity

The meaning is directly compositional: 'buccal' (pertaining to the mouth/cheek area) combined with 'cavity' (a hollow or space) yields a hollow space in the mouth. This is a regular anatomical compound following predictable formation, so a learner who knows both constituent words would be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Buccal cavity comes from the parts buccal, a word for 'cheek', and cavity, a word for 'space'. So it literally means the small space at the side of the mouth where food can sit, the space between the jaws and the cheeks.