Cheek (cheek) - Cheek (English spelling)

Japanese: ほお(頰) - ほお（英語表記）cheek

An area of soft tissue located behind and outside the corners of the mouth, which, together with the lips, forms the outer wall of the oral vestibule. Only mammals have this, and no other animals have anything comparable. It is generally a plate of soft tissue that includes a muscle called the buccal muscle, but it can also be formed into a pouch-like structure called a cheek pouch. Among primates, humans can also hold small amounts of food in their cheeks, but the cheeks of Japanese macaques and other long-tailed macaques are extremely elastic, so when food is held here before chewing, it bulges outward and can store a considerable amount.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

口角の後外側にあり，くちびるとともに口腔前庭の外側壁をなす軟部の領域。哺乳類だけがもつもので，その他の動物にはこれに相当するものはない。一般に頰筋（きようきん）という筋肉を含んだ軟組織の板であるが，ほお袋という袋状の構造になっていることがある。霊長類では，ヒトもほおに少量の食物をほおばることができるが，ニホンザルなどオナガザル類のサルのほおは著しく伸縮性に富んでいるため咀嚼（そしやく）する前ここに食物をほおばると外側にふくらみ，かなりの量を蓄えることができる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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