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sucking cushion --> buccal fat-pad

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.