ANATOMY OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINTS AND THEIR DISORDERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Development
3. Components
4. Ligaments
5. Relations
6. Blood Supply
7. Nerve Supply
8. Histology
9. Disorders
Introduction
The bones involved in the articulation of the lower jaw with the cranium and upper
facial skeleton are the mandible and the temporal bone, and the joint therefore is
designated the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) 1.
The temporomandibular articulation is a synovial joint.
Development
At 3 months of gestation,TMJ, begins to form.
The first evidence of TMJ development is the appearance of two distinct regions of
mesenchymal condensation, the temporal and condylar blastemata.
The temporal blastema appears before the condylar and initially both are positioned
some distance from each other.
The condylar blastema grows rapidly in a dorsolateral direction to close the gap.
Ossification begins first in the temporal blastema.
While the condylar blastema is still condensed mesenchyme, a cleft appears
immediately above it that becomes the inferior joint cavity.
The condylar blastema differentiates into cartilage (condylar cartilage), and then a
second cleft appears in relation to the temporal ossification that becomes the upper
joint.
With the appearance of this cleft, the primitive articular disk is formed 1.
Components of TMJ
mandibular condyle
- Articular zone
- Proliferative or cellular zone
- Hypertrophic zone
articular fossa
articular disc
- Anterior band
- Intermediate zone
- Posterior band
- retrodiscal tissues4
Ligaments of TMJ
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Development
3. Components
4. Ligaments
5. Relations
6. Blood Supply
7. Nerve Supply
8. Histology
9. Disorders
Introduction
The bones involved in the articulation of the lower jaw with the cranium and upper
facial skeleton are the mandible and the temporal bone, and the joint therefore is
designated the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) 1.
The temporomandibular articulation is a synovial joint.
Development
At 3 months of gestation,TMJ, begins to form.
The first evidence of TMJ development is the appearance of two distinct regions of
mesenchymal condensation, the temporal and condylar blastemata.
The temporal blastema appears before the condylar and initially both are positioned
some distance from each other.
The condylar blastema grows rapidly in a dorsolateral direction to close the gap.
Ossification begins first in the temporal blastema.
While the condylar blastema is still condensed mesenchyme, a cleft appears
immediately above it that becomes the inferior joint cavity.
The condylar blastema differentiates into cartilage (condylar cartilage), and then a
second cleft appears in relation to the temporal ossification that becomes the upper
joint.
With the appearance of this cleft, the primitive articular disk is formed 1.
Components of TMJ
mandibular condyle
- Articular zone
- Proliferative or cellular zone
- Hypertrophic zone
articular fossa
articular disc
- Anterior band
- Intermediate zone
- Posterior band
- retrodiscal tissues4
Ligaments of TMJ
