Regional dynamic tensile properties of the TMJ disc

Although the TMJ disc has been well-characterized under tension and compression, dynamic viscoelastic regional and directional variations have heretofore not been investigated. We hypothesized that the intermediate zone under mediolateral tension would exhibit lower dynamic moduli compared with the other regions of the disc under either mediolateral or anteroposterior tension. Specimens were prepared from porcine discs (3 regions/direction), and dynamic tensile sweeps were performed at 1% strain over a frequency range of 0.1 to 100 rad/sec. Generally, the intermediate zone possessed the lowest storage and loss moduli, and the highest loss tangent. This study further accentuates the known distinct character of the intermediate zone by showing for the first time that these differences also extend to dynamic behavior, perhaps implicating the TMJ disc as a structure primarily exposed to predominantly anteroposterior tension via anterior and posterior attachments, with a need for great distension mediolaterally across the intermediate zone.