An encapsuled mass of fat in the cheek on the outer side of the buccinator muscle, especially marked in the infant; supposed to strengthen and support the cheek during the act of sucking.
Synonym: corpus adiposum buccae, Bichat's fat-pad, Bichat's protuberance, fat body of cheek, sucking cushion, sucking pad, suctorial pad.
(05 Mar 2000)