Associations between the location of the glenoid fossa and its remodeling. An experimental study in the rabbit

The growth of the glenoid fossa is assumed to follow that of the cranial base. It has been observed recently that distal displacement in association with an obtuse cranial base angle is reduced on remodeling of the fossa anteriorly as a consequence of a more anterior position of the condyle in the fossa. The aim of this investigation was to simulate the increased distal displacement experimentally by causing a premature artificial cranial synostosis. Ten 10-day-old rabbits underwent gluing of the interparietal and temporoparietal sutures. These and ten controls were killed at 50 days for examination, and the articular surface of the right glenoid fossa was marked with a soft metal wire. The skulls were roentgenographed in standardized lateral projection. The articular surface was significantly shallower in relation to the skull base in the experimental group, and the glenoid fossa was located more superiorly and posteriorly. The most likely reason for the more horizontal direction of the articular surface is the more anterior location of the condyle, exerting increased pressure on the eminence. This becomes important, as it has recently been shown that in rabbits this shallowing of the fossa is associated with increased forward growth of the mandible.