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Morphometric investigation of condylar cartilage and disc thickness in the human temporomandibular joint: significance for the definition of ostearthrotic changes
Author(s) -
Stratmann Udo,
Schaarschmidt Klaus,
Santamaria Pablo
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1996.tb01372.x
Subject(s) - condyle , fibrocartilage , anatomy , temporomandibular joint , cartilage , articular surface , perforation , joint (building) , synovial joint , articular cartilage , osteoarthritis , materials science , medicine , orthodontics , pathology , composite material , architectural engineering , alternative medicine , engineering , punching
106 human TMJ specimens from 53 individuals (age: 65–85 years) were examined macro‐ and microscopically and measured for discal and condylar cartilage thickness at five points defined on a mediolateral axis along the middle dense pan of the disc. 27% of the discs showed lateral and laterocentral perforations. In 8% the lateral portion was thinned down to a translucent layer. 62% showed no gross destruction or deviation in shape and thickness. The remaining 3% displayed extensive destruction and their condyles were osteoarthrotic. All discs showed a significant decrease in thickness from their medial towards their lateral portions. The condyles displayed either a smooth articular surface (16%) or an irregular and progressively remodelled surface (81%) with histologically normal fibrocartilage. The condylar cartilage did not show a significant gradient of thickness in amediolateral direction. The results support our previously developed working hypothesis, that the joint is seemingly loaded along its entire articular surface and that a lateral disc perforation in older individuals can be due to a physiological process of wearing rather than to a pathological sequel of functional disorders.