The three-dimensional cancellous bone architecture of the human mandibular condyle

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the cancellous bone of the mandibular condyle is inhomogeneous and anisotropic. For this purpose, 11 mandibular condyles from embalmed human cadavers were scanned in a micro-CT system. Within each condyle, 9 volumes of interest were selected from different mediolateral and supero-inferior regions. Several bone parameters were calculated to describe the morphology. It appeared that the cancellous bone of the condyle could be approximated by parallel plates. These plates were almost vertically oriented at an angle of 17 degrees relative to the sagittal plane, i.e., perpendicular to the condylar axis. In the superior regions of the condyle, the cancellous bone had the largest bone volume fraction (0.19), associated with the thickest trabeculae (0.11 mm), and the highest trabecular number (1.72 mm(-1)). The lowest bone volume fraction (0.15) was found more inferiorly. The degree of anisotropy increased from superior to inferior across the condyle. No mediolateral differences in bone morphology were found, but superiorly central regions contained more bone than peripheral regions. The plate-like trabeculae could indicate that the condyle is optimally adapted to sustain loads from all directions in a plane perpendicular to the condylar axis. The high bone mass and lower anisotropy in the superior regions could enable the condyle to sustain multiple load directions. Toward the collum, the trabeculae are more aligned. This could point to stresses acting predominantly in one direction.