title: Kinematic analysis of the human temporomandibular joint.
abstract: A kinematic analysis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is developed to determine the range of motion of the mandible during normal opening and during special motions required for arthroscopic surgery. The translation of the mandible is restricted by the constraint of the ligaments. By accounting for the maximum allowable stretch of a ligament, limits of translation are determined for any normal opening angle of the mandible. The present analysis provides information useful in securing the maximum available space for the protrusion of arthroscopic instruments during TMJ surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015.
authors.forename: Q S
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Updike
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Salathe
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology*