TMJ
By Aneta Dolezal and Alexia Giapisikoglou


Definition
•= joint of the jaw and is referred to as TMJ.
•two TMJs, one on each side, working in unison.
•name is derived from the two bones which form the joint:
• articulation between condylar head of mandible and the anterior part of the glenoid fossa of the
temporal bones

Features
• articulating surface of TMJ is NOT formed of hyaline cartilage but of a sturdy avascular fibrous
layer • it is the only synovial joint in the human body with an articulating disc which is present
between the joint surfaces of cranium and mandible.(this makes the TMJ a double joint)
•Movements can be rotational or translational

http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/tmj/figure2.jpg



Ligaments
•Lateral temporomandibular ligament
•Sphenoparietal ligament
•Stylomandibular ligament
•Stylohyoid ligament
•
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/temporomandibularjoint-12681680820925-phpapp02/95/slide-8-728.jpg?12
68168202

Synovial tissue
C:\Users\Alexia\Pictures\skype\0258DE08-95D1-445E-B41B-F1FF16A2911A.jpg


Innervation
•Sensory innervation:
–Originates from trigeminal nerve (CNV)
•auriculotemporal and masseteric branches of mandibular branch of V
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/temporomandibularjoint-12681680820925-phpapp02/95/slide-6-728.jpg?12
68168202

Vascularization
•Branches of ECA:
–superficial temporal branch
–
–Deep auricular artery
–
–Anterior tympanic artery
–
–Ascending pharyngeal
–
–Maxillary artery
–
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/temporomandibularjoint-12681680820925-phpapp02/95/slide-7-728.jpg?12
68168202

Muscles of Mastication
• masseter:
•O: superficial head : zygomatic process of maxilla and Inf. Border of Anterior 2/3 of zygomatic
arch
•   deep head: inner aspect of zygomatic arch and posterior 1/3
•I:  superficial head: angle of mandible and lower portion of lateral aspect of ramus
•      deep head: upper portion of lateral aspect of ramus
•F: elevation and protrusion
•Innerv: masseteric nerve (mandibular nerve)

•Temporalis
•O: lower temporal line of skull, temporal fossa, overlying temporal fascia •I: coronoid process of
mandible, anterior border of ramus of mandible
•F: to maintain resting tonus- elevation, retrusion
•Innerv: deep temporal nerve (mandibular nerve)

•Medial Pterygoid
•O: pterygoid fossa, medial surface of lateral lamina of pterygoid process, pyramidal process of
palatine bone
•I: inferior margin of mandible, pterygoid tuberosity
•F: closees jaw- elevation
•Innerv: Nerve to Medial Pterygoid (Mandibular N.)

•Lateral pterygoid
•O: lower head:lateral surface of lateral pterygoid plate
•     superior head: infratemporal surface of greater wing of sphenoid •I: fibers are directed
laterally and backwards into the front of the pterygoid plate
•F: depress, protrusion, move mandible from side to side
•Innerv: Mandibular N.

http://www.theodora.com/anatomy/images/image383.gif