A Study On The Morphology Of Mandibular Condyle

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was prepared to figure out a certain dimension and morphology of the condyle at the central, medial and lateral aspects on MR images of asymptomatic volunteers, which could be comparable with those of the TMD patient's condyle. MATERIALS Sixty TMJs from 30 asymptomatic volunteers(15 male, 15 female) who had no clinical symptoms and no disc displacement on sagital and coronal view of MRI were served as normal. METHOD: MR images were taken from the asymptomatic volunteers and the dimension of the anteroposterior length, mediolateral width, height, convexities were measured through the images on the sagittal and coronal sections of mandibular condyle. Then, these data were collected and analyzed. RESULT: The mean value of anteroposterior length was 8.00+/-1.21mm at central section and mediolateral length was 21.40+/-2.32mm on coronal view. The anterior condylar length at medial side was the shortest and the convexity of anterior slop at the lateral side was roved to be the flattest among 3 sections. There were little dimensional and morphological differences at sagittal sections, but the ediolateral width of condyle at coronal section was significantly different between male and female. CONCLUSION: In sagittal sections, the anterior condyle length was shortest at medial side and the convexity of anterior slop was flattest at lateral side, and there were little dimensional and morphologic differences between male and female. In coronal section, male's condyle was more wider and flatter than female's.