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Bony eminence on the middle cranial fossa corresponding to the temporomandibular joint
Author(s) -
Tsunoda Atsunobu,
Sumi Takuro,
Shirakura Satoshi,
Kishimoto Seiji,
Akita Keiichi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/ca.20447
Subject(s) - fossa , medicine , temporomandibular joint , anatomy , condyle , middle cranial fossa , cadaver , orthodontics
We report a nameless bony eminence over the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its possible clinical significance. Forty‐two half heads of 21 UK Caucasian cadavers (61–95 years old, mean 84.3 ± 8.2 years, male:female = 11:10) were used to investigate the surface of the middle cranial fossa (MCF) over the TMJ. The thickness of the bony roof of the glenoid fossa was also measured. A bony eminence over the glenoid fossa was observed in half of the specimens. Some showed a complete oval bulge, which completely reflected the contour of the glenoid fossa. The others showed a bony bulge, which partially reflected that contour. The mean (±SD) thickness of the bone in the roof of glenoid fossa was 1.5 ± 1.2 mm. The mean bony thickness of specimens showing the eminence was 0.8 ± 0.5 mm, whereas it was 2.3 ± 1.2 mm in specimens without an eminence. These differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.01). The osteological features we describe may be relevant to certain clinical problems. Traumatic dislocation of mandibular condyle, for example, might relate to a weakness of the glenoid fossa. Clin. Anat., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.