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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A Morphometric and Cellular Analysis Method for the Murine Mandibular Condyle
Published on: January 11, 2018
Relationships between geometry and kinematic characteristics in the temporomandibular joint
M Mesnard1, J C Coutant, M Aoun
1Laboratoire de Mécanique Physique, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5469, 351 Cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence Cedex, France. michel.mesnard@u-bordeaux1.fr
Abstract:
Motions of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involve both translation and rotation; however, there may be substantial variations from one human to another, and these variations present significant difficulties when designing TMJ prostheses. The disc-condyle glides along the temporal bone and the condyle centre describe a curve that depends on the individual morphology. This study analyses disc-condyle rotatory and translatory displacements moving all along the temporal bone facets which are mainly composed of two areas: the articular tubercle slope (ATS) and the preglenoid plane separated by the articular tubercle crest. Displacements were quantified using 3D video analysis, and this technique was computer-assisted. From a population of 32 volunteers, we were able to establish a correlation between the kinematic characteristics of the joint and the disc-condyle trajectories. This study quantifies the geometrical characteristics of the ATS and their inter-individual variations, which are useful in TMJ prosthesis design.
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