Anatomy Of The Temporomandibular Joint

Anatomy Of The Temporomandibular Joint

Enumerate the ligaments and functions of TMJ.
Answer:

Ligaments:

1. Fibrous capsule:

• Attached above to the articular tubercle, mandibular fossa, and below to the neck of the mandible.

2. Lateral/temporomandibular ligament:

• Attached above to the articular tubercle.
• Below to the posterolateral aspect of the neck of the mandible.
• It reinforces and strengthens the capsular ligament.

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3. Sphenomandibular ligament:

• It is an accessory ligament.
• It arises from the spine of the sphenoid and from the petrotympanic fissures and ends at the lingula of the mandible.
• It is a remnant of Meckel’s cartilage.

4. Stylomandibular ligament:

• It is also an accessory ligament.
• It is attached above the lateral surface of the styloid process and below to the angle and ramus of the mandible.

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5. Otomandibular ligaments:

• These are discomalleolar and tympano mandibular ligaments.
• They connect callers to the TMJ disk and to the sphenomandibular ligaments.

Temporomandibular Joints Functions:

1. Protraction/forward movement of the mandible.

• During this movement the articular disc of the TMJ glides forward over the upper articular surface, the head of the mandible moving with it.

2. Retraction of mandible:

• During this, the articular disc glides backward over the upper articular surface.

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3. Slight opening of the mouth.

• The head of the mandible moves on the undersurface of the disc.

4. Wide opening of the mouth.

• It is followed by protraction.

5. Chewing movements/side-to-side movements of the mandible.