OBJECTIVE
To study the buccal fat pad’ buccal flap anatomical variation
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The male and female not fixed cadavers were selected for the study. Total number of observations was 194, taking into account the study of the right and left sides of each head: 50 — male and 47 — female. All the objects were divided into groups by age: «mature», «elderly» and «old». The average age of the studied objects was 71.4 years. The average growth value of the study objects was 169.21 cm. The average weight of the research objects was 74.18 kg. The average value of the body mass index of the study objects was 25.88. Regional anatomy examination was performed on the selected anatomical material by the method of layer-by-layer tissue preparation. Data analysis included standard methods of descriptive and analytical statistics.
RESULTS
The buccal flap of the buccal fat pad was found in 84.02% (n=163) of cases. Significantly degraded or complete absence of the process was observed in 15.97% (n=31) of cases. At the same time, the presence or absence of a process did not depend on sex, age or side. 4 variants of the buccal flap structure were identified. The most common, 76.6% (n=125) was the 1st variant with a rounded shape, encapsulated, without additional fractions. 2nd variant — with additional fraction extending laterally — 8.58% (n=14) of cases. The two- or three-lobed variant, when the flap is divided by connective tissue septa into two or three hemispheres — 3rd variant — 6.74% (n=11). Cases of the process of a loose structure without a pronounced capsule — 4th variant- 7.97% (n=13).
CONCLUSION
Variants of the structures of the buccal lamp of the buccal fat pad were found. We have established the frequency of occurrence of one or another composition of the structure. We performed a correlation analysis of growth, sex, body mass index for the development of the buccal process of the cheek fat body. The lack of correlation between the variant of the buccal flap of the buccal fat pad with sex, age group, and body mass index allows us to draw conclusions about its relative independence. Thus, it becomes possible to identify and classify individual variants of its structure.
