RESUMO
The present study examined the ultrastructuralfeatures of the articular discs of the temporomandibularjoint (TMJ) of nine humanfetuses aging from 21 to 28 weeks. The specimenof the fetal articular discs was sectionedfrontally and sagitally and examined under thescanning electron-microscope. The ultrastructuralsurvey of the architecture of the articulardisc revealed three bands composed of fibrocartilaginoustissues in the articular disc:namely, 1) anteromedial longitudinal fibers,the dominant component in the superior andinferior portions; 2) anteroposterior transversalfibers, 3) central diagonal fibers. The centralportion of the articular disc showedscattered blood vessels containing erythrocytes.To our knowledge, this is the firstdescription of the presence of blood vessels inthe central articular of the human TMJ articulardisc. This evidence is also lacking inclassic textbooks of Anatomy and Developmental Biology (AU)
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