MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OF THE OSSEOUS PART OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

This article is based on the observation of the temporomandibular joint(TMJ) and on the analysis of its morphological structure. The normal values of 15 items, used to represent the structure of the joint, have been established.Three indices, that is the glenoid fossa index, the articular tubercle index and the condyle index, are accepted to express the geometrical characters and to reflect the close relationship between the two functional parts of the joint. Besides, the frequency distributing curves are presented. It is concluded that the male's TMJ is eminently larger than the female's, while there is no distinct difference between left and right sides and between groups with or without occlusion. This result might meet the needs of the Clinical research as well as the design of the artificial TMJ.