Morphological analysis of the condylar head of human temporomanibular joint without symptoms by using CT

Abstract

We analyzed the morphology of the condylar head of the human temporomandibular joint without symptoms by using CT. The normal condylar heads of 120 people were evaluated. There was no correlation between the morphology of condylar head and age. However, the male was significantly wider than the female at the maximum cross-sectional area of the condylar head, and longer both on the long and short axis. The morphology of the female was more round in shape than that of the male on the condylar head. On the other hand, the horizontal condylar angle was the same in the male and female, that is about 18 degrees. The left side morphology was bigger than the right side for loth sexes, and it was considered that there might be specific differences between right and left sides. Also, the lateral size of the skull did not influence the morphology of the condylar head. It was considered that these results misht be one of the landmarks of the morphological analysis of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders.