Clinical Anatomy of the Temporomandibular Joint

Part VII

Abstract

Anatomy of the temporomandibular joint appears to have an important role in understanding masticatory system and diseases. Although many articles have been reported about the temporomandibular joint anatomy, there are a few reports describing the relations between basic anatomy and clinical condition.
We reviewed current articles about temporomandibular joint anatomy, aimed for clarifying the relations between basic and clinical findings.
Part 7:
We introduced articles about the retrodiscal tissue of the temporomandibular joint. This area is composed of looser connective tissues than that of the articular disk, and contains nerves, vessels, especially, venous plexuses which extend in the mandibular fossa at mouth opening.
Tissue elasticity of the retrodiscal area, derived from many elastic fibers those are mainly located in the medial part of this area, is thought to be closely related to the articular disk movement.